“Woman with a Hat” by Henri Matisse – A Painting Analysis

Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse is a famous oil on canvas painting that is said to depict the artist’s wife, Amelie. Produced and exhibited for the first time in 1905, it appeared among other works by Fauve artists at the Salon d’Automne, such as Maurice de Vlaminck and André Derain. These works were received with fierce criticism, leading to the artists being referred to as “Wild Beasts”. Read further below to learn more about Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse!

Exploring Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse

While this artwork would not seem out of place in the modern art market, when it was first exhibited it, and other works like it, were instantly derided as being unrefined and child-like. This was mostly due to the unrealistic color choices he used in rendering the woman’s face and clothing. Yet, this piece and other Fauve artworks would eventually be recognized for their distinct aesthetic and abandonment of traditional coloring. However, before we find out why this work was so important, let’s find out a little bit about the artist himself.

Le bonheur de vivre (1905 – 1906) by Henri Matisse, located in the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A famous example of Matisse’s Fauvist style; Regan Vercruysse from Phelps, New York, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Henri Matisse

While recuperating from appendicitis at the age of 19, Henri Matisse quit his employment as a legal clerk to instead produce traditional Dutch-inspired interiors and still lifes in a somber color palette. His colors began to brighten and his technique improved after relocating to Paris from northern France in 1891, thanks to the impact of Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, and others. He finally liberated his colors in vivid tones that eradicated the use of shadows and accentuated forms while working around the Mediterranean shore in 1904. This small but essential attempt was part of Matisse’s quest to express himself through his unique use of color. From 1906 through 1913, he traveled around Moorish Spain and North Africa, creating mural-sized works that explored color intensities as they relate to the human form.

As the sense of depth was squeezed into solid planes of color, his works of art grew more decorative during the 1930s.

Photograph of Henri Matisse (seated) with Léonide Massine preparing Le chant du rossignol. The ballet debut occurred on 2 February 1920 at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra in Paris. Massine did the choreography and Matisse did the sets, costumes, and curtain designs; Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse

Matisse reached a new level of fame with this painting. It is regarded as a major turning point because it marks the moment that he turned away from Neo-Impressionism and established Fauvism. Amélie is dressed in attire typically worn by the French bourgeoisie, complete with a stylish fan and long-sleeved gloves. She has a rather serious expression on her face and appears to be looking somewhere to the viewer’s left. Her pose looks professional yet natural, suggesting that this was not her first time sitting for the artist. She is wearing a green and blue dress with a bright red belt that cuts across horizontally.

This work caused a huge uproar in the world of art when it was first exhibited.

Critics and the public could not make sense of the unusual color choices and the fact that the colors were painted next to each other instead of being blended into each other. This was not the only artwork to feature this new style at the exhibition, and the gallery space was filled with various artworks, yet in the middle of the room was a piece by the master artist Donatello. This led one critic to remark that it was a Donatello work surrounded by wild beasts (fauves in French). Similar to beasts, these works seem untamed and unrestrained, as well as primitive. This was regarded as a huge departure from what was fashionable in the French art world at that time. While all the artworks were sneered at by critics, it was this painting that was most singled out for attacks.

Yet, it was bought for 500 francs by Leo and Gertrude Stein, which helped to boost the morale of the disheartened Matisse, leading him and the other artists to eventually embrace the title of the “Fauves”, forever changed the way that artists could apply color in their works. However, Sarah Stein, the sister-in-law of Leo and Gertrude, would subsequently claim to have originally purchased the artwork, stating that Leo was not initially fond of the painting. It can even be seen in photos of Sarah’s house. It was then bought by the Haas family in the 1950s, who subsequently donated it to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

That concludes our look at Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse. With the debut of this painting in 1905, the artist’s career was taking an exciting new direction. He was departing from his earlier works, and color was most crucial in these new innovative works. This painting displays the use of color in ways that are completely different from anything else that had been painted before. While this wild new style may have initially been met with much derision, it is now regarded as a pivotal turning point in the world of art.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Portrayed in Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse?

The woman portrayed in this famous portrait painting by Henri Matisse is his wife, Amelie. What is unique about this portrayal is the artist’s novel use of color. The colors used are not true to life and are placed next to each other instead of blended.

Why Is Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse Important?

This artwork is noted for its unique application of color, which some critics refer to as being the work of wild beasts. It did not follow any of the traditional art techniques or styles of the period, and was therefore initially criticized for looking too childlike and unrefined. Yet, it gave rise to the Fauve movement, which helped change the way in which many subsequent artists expressed themselves through color in their own artworks.

Jordan Anthony( Content Editor, Art Writer, Photographer )

Jordan Anthony is a Cape Town-based film photographer, curator, and arts writer. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where she explored themes like healing, identity, dreams, and intuitive creation in her Contemporary art practice. Jordan has collaborated with various local art institutions, including the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, the Turbine Art Fair, and the Wits Art Museum. Her photography focuses on abstract color manipulations, portraiture, candid shots, and urban landscapes. She’s intrigued by philosophy, memory, and esotericism, drawing inspiration from Surrealism, Fluxus, and ancient civilizations, as well as childhood influences and found objects. Jordan is working for artfilemagazine since 2022 and writes blog posts about art history and photography.

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