Death of Henri Matisse - 3rd November 1954

Today is the 75th anniversary of the death of French artist Henri Matisse, considered by many as the most important French painter of the 20th century.

Born in December 1869, Matisse is known primarily for his bold use of colour and is one of the founders of fauvism, which characterised strong colour and fierce brushwork (fauves in French translates as wild beasts).

One of his iconic works from this period is Woman with a Hat (1905), which shocked audiences with its use of expressive and vivid colour (see left).

Matisse’s work greatly influenced modern art and continues to inspire modern-day artists in diverse fields. His collaboration with Pablo Picasso and their influence on each other's art became a defining relationship in modern art.

His pieces are celebrated for their playfulness, simplicity, and emotional depth.

Further reading: Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954) Essay - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.