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Henri Matisse

 

Henri Matisse, Self Portrait in a Striped T-shirt, 1906


CONTEXT CLUES:
The intense colors of the works Matisse painted between 1900 and 1905 brought him notoriety as one of the Fauves (French for "wild beasts"). Though his work continued to change and evolve throughout his life, Matisse is known for the unusual bright colors in his paintings.

What do you think of the colors Matisse chose for this self-portrait? His face and the area around it are mainly green or blue. Do you think the colors have meaning, or did he simply choose them at random to make a unique picture?

Other self-portraits by Matisse:






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