Fine art Tuesday

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954)

This painting was painted in 1897 which was early in his career. Later paintings were simpler and less composed. Later paintings were more along the lines of what might be impressed into the mind of person if they were in need of corrective lenses and only had time for a hurried glance.

This painting shows a mastery of light interacting with liquids and various glass shapes. There are nine carafes of various size, material and contents and a minimum of seven, crystal goblets. Matisse clearly loves the voluptuous shapes of carafes, fruit and even the woman fussily adjusting the flowers.

An anthropologist, looking at this painting would conclude that Frenchmen survived in 1897 by drinking wine and eating pears, rolls and sardines.