Coral's Art History Blog: Matisse and Picasso #9

At first people are always unsure how to react to something new even so in the art world. When a new style of art arises it can be hard for people to appreciate it when they are used to a certain norm of art. The two most revolutionary art movements that people had a hard time understanding and adjusting to at first were Fauvism and Cubism. These movements were formed by two very famous artists, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.

Henri Matisse became aware to his love for art in a very different way than most artists. When he was 21 he had an appendicitis attack, which is when he got his first set of paints from his mother. He then realized he was meant to paint and went on to formulate a new art style called Fauvism. Fauvism came about during the expressionistic period of art from the 1900-1910. Fauvism is a style of art that used a variety of random and very vibrant colors that expressed the artist’s feelings toward nature and the world in an unfamiliar way. Matisse’s paintings are exceptionally vibrant and give a feel of happiness. His favorite thing to paint was the female figure and a home setting, which he liked to create a relaxed happy feel to the viewer.

Pablo Picasso was a very talented artist who had the ability to do well in any style of painting. He started painting realistic and experimented with many other styles but did not stick to one until him and Braque came across the idea of cubism. Cubism was a new style that involves the use of geometric shapes, a collage, lines, and interesting compositions. This new art style was extremely unconventional and different from any art movement. I have heard some people say that they don’t understand why Picasso’s paintings are so famous considering he doesn’t seem to know how to paint realistically or it requires no visible skill. Even though I am not a huge fan of Pablo Picasso’s paintings, I definitely see why his work is so famous in a way that he was innovative and had the ability to convey things in a different view, he even inspired different movements after him such as abstract art. I have seen a few of his works in person and it always makes me wonder how people make their mind go in such an abstract direction, those are the kinds of artists I see as creative.

Many people don’t understand that being realistic isn’t what makes a good artist it’s the amount of imagination an artist has and the ability to convert that thought onto a flat surface and bring it to life. Both Matisse and Picasso were inventive and created a new way to make art that broke away from their traditional trained skill. Apparently the two artists were aware of one another’s work and challenged each other in a way that made them seem as friendly rivals. Their styles aren’t meant to be explained and analyzed but rather to be respected.