Henri Matisse in Morocco
Aug
13
Written by:
8/13/2010 8:35 PM
Henri Matisse in Morocco
When we think of French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Morocco is not a country that typically jumps to mind. However, Matisse spent quite a bit of time in Morocco and it was the inspiration of many of his pieces. He immersed himself in Tangier and its landscape during his first visit to Morocco, spending his time making quick sketches of figures and painting drawings of Moroccan people and Tangier. Some of Matisse’s famous paintings inspired by Morocco include:
Fatma the mulatto woman, Tangier, mid-October-early November 1912, Oil on canvas
The Manila Shaw, Issy-les-Molineaux, February-mid April 1911, Oil on canvas
Zorah in Yellow, Tangier, first half of April 1912, Oil and pencil on canvas
Matisse himself acknowledged near the end of his life the significance of his time in Morocco when he identified two works—‘Bathers by a River’ (1909–10, 1913, 1916–17) and ‘The Moroccans’ (1915–16)—as among his most "pivotal."
Fans of Matisse can enjoy his work in an exhibit hosted by MOMA, The Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibit, entitled ‘Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917’, which runs from July 18-October 11,2010 includes 120 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints including artwork crafted by Matisse during his time on Tangier. These included “Fatma the mulatto woman” and “Zorah in Yellow”.
Zorah in Yellow
Fatma The Mulatto Woman