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Henri Matisse Facts & Worksheets

Henri Matisse was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, draughtsman, and collage maker who became a leader in the style of Fauvism in the 20th century. He is well-known for his artworks, which featured exaggerated and flattened forms and intensely bright colors.

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Henri Matisse was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, draughtsman, and collage maker who became a leader in the style of Fauvism in the 20th century. He is well-known for his artworks, which featured exaggerated and flattened forms and intensely bright colors. The subjects of his work are often domestic figures in landscapes, portraits, nudes, and interiors. To this day, Matisse is a visual artist celebrated for his contributions to modern art.

See the fact file below for more information on Henri Matisse, or you can download our 27-page Henri Matisse worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

  • Henri Émile Benoît Matisse was born on December 31, 1869, in Le Cateau in northern France, then raised in the industrial town of Bohain-en-Vermandois.
  • Matisse was the first child in a middle-class family who worked in the grain business.
  • He attended the secondary school in Saint-Quentin from 1882 to 1887, then went to Paris to pursue a law degree.
  • After a year of studying law in Paris, Matisse moved back to Saint-Quentin and worked as a clerk in a law office.
  • Before going to work, he would go to a drawing class at the local École Quentin-Latour as a way to cope while recovering from appendicitis.
  • In 1891, he gave up law and returned to Paris to study art.
  • He first took classes under William-Adolphe Bouguereau at the Académie Julian, a private school. 
  • Learning from academically trained teachers, Matisse’s early works were rather conventional and naturalist as he copied the works of the Old Masters.
  • From 1892 to 1899, he studied at the atelier of Gustave Moreau at the École des Beaux-Arts.

EXHIBITIONS AND IMPRESSIONISM

  • In 1896, Henri Matisse showcased his paintings at an exhibition at the traditional Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, where the government purchased his work “Woman Reading” (1894).
  • During the late 1890s, he was influenced by the works of Impressionist painters.
  • He was also exposed to the works of French artists Paul Gauguin and Paul Cezanne and the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.
  • In 1898, he married Amélie Parayre, with whom he would have three children: Marguerite (born 1894), Jean (born 1899), and Pierre (born 1900).
  • He subsequently visited London to study the paintings of J. M. W. Turner.
  • He also traveled to Corsica, where the Mediterranean colors left a lasting impression.

BREAKTHROUGH YEARS

  • In 1901, Matisse began submitting his work to the more progressive Salon des Indépendants.
  • During the early 1900s, he adopted a style of painting influenced by the pointillist works of Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, which employed small dots of pigment instead of broad brushstrokes.
  • In 1904, he had his first solo exhibition at the gallery of dealer Ambroise Vollard, but without much success.
  • It was in 1905 when Matisse reached a breakthrough moment in his career.
  • In the summer of 1905, he went on a trip with Andre Derain to Collioure, where he was inspired to create his major paintings “Open Window” and “Woman with a Hat,” trading off carefully placed points of color with bright and spontaneous brushwork.
  • In autumn, he showcased both works in the 1905 group exhibition at the Salon d’Automne in Paris. 
  • Reviewing the show, contemporary art critic Louis Vauxcelles called the artists who employed violent color and bold images “les fauves” (meaning “wild beasts”), then the 20th-century style Fauvism was born.

FAUVISM

  • Henri Matisse and his fellow artist and friendly rival André Derain were the acknowledged leaders of the Fauves.
  • Georges Braque, Raoul Dufy, and Maurice de Vlaminck were the other members of this group.
  • Fauve style is defined by strong and spontaneous brushwork, acid-bright and violent colors, strong and meandering outlines, and a moody overall feel.
  • Matisse spent the first decade of the century using this art style.

SCULPTURE

  • From 1900 to 1910, he also created sculptures seemingly related to his paintings.
  • Matisse’s first attempt at sculpting, using mostly clay, was in 1899.
  • His early work was inspired by the sculptures of Auguste Rodin and Antoine-Louis Barye.

SUPPORTERS

  • In 1906, Matisse met Pablo Picasso, who would become his lifelong friend.
  • As Matisse rose to success, his work caught the attention of influential art collectors, including American expatriate writer Gertrude Stein and her family, including her brothers Leo and Michael and the latter’s wife, Sarah.
  • They became avid Matisse collectors. 
  • Gertrude’s friends, the Cone sisters Claribel and Etta, also became huge patrons of Matisse.
  • With the monetary and organizational support of his friends, Matisse was able to teach young artists in a private school called the Académie Matisse from 1907 until 1911.
  • Matisse continued to use his signature Fauvist style and radical approach to color and form in his paintings of the 1910s and 1920s.
  • Some of his major works include “The Red Studio” (1911), “The Goldfish” (1915), “Piano Lesson” (1916), and “Montalban, Large Landscape” (1918).
  • His subjects were primarily still-life images, portraits, figures in rooms, or scenes of his own studio.
  • In 1917, he relocated to Nice on the French Riviera in France, where he began to employ a more softened and modernized approach.  

WORK OUTSIDE OF PAINTING

  • In 1920, Matisse made the costumes and set design for Serge Diaghilev’s ballet “Le Chant du Rossignol.”
  • He also returned to sculpture, which he had not been doing for several years.
  • In 1932, he made illustrations and etchings for an edition of Stéphane Mallarmé Poésies.
  • He was also commissioned to design the stained-glass windows, murals, and furnishings of the Chapel of Saint-Marie du Rosaire in Vence, which he finished between 1947 and 1951.
  • He worked extensively as a printmaker and graphic artist while living in Nice.
  • After being diagnosed with duodenal cancer and undergoing surgery in 1941, Matisse became bedridden and would often work from his bed.
  • During this time, he occupied himself with a new art form, a cut-paper collage, using colored paper and scissors.
  • He would also draw with a pencil or charcoal attached to the end of a long pole, which allowed him to reach the canvas.
  • In 1947, he completed a book entitled “Jazz” wherein he detailed his musings alongside his colored paper cutouts.

DEATH

  • Henri Matisse spent the last years of his life mostly in solitude.
  • His wife had ended their 41-year marriage in July 1939.
  • Henri died in Nice on November 3, 1954, at 84.
  • To this day, Henri Matisse is still regarded as a master of expressive art and color and is considered one of the most influential and revolutionary artists of the 20th century.

Henri Matisse Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Henri Matisse across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Henri Matisse. Henri Matisse was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, draughtsman, and collage maker who became a leader in the style of Fauvism in the 20th century.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Henri Matisse Facts
  2. Matisse’s Memoir
  3. Milestone Timeline
  4. Truths About Henri
  5. Paintings from Paris
  6. From Words to Life
  7. Art Appreciation
  8. Fauve Painters
  9. Collectors & Contemporaries
  10. Other Art Styles
  11. My Self-Portrait

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some notable works by Henri Matisse?

Henri Matisse created many notable works throughout his career as a painter, sculptor, and printmaker. Some of his most famous pieces include “The Dance,” “La Danse,” “The Red Studio,” “Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra),” and “The Joy of Life” (“Le Bonheur de Vivre”).

What art movement was Henri Matisse associated with?

Henri Matisse was closely associated with the art movement known as Fauvism. Fauvism emerged in the early 20th century and is characterized by its bold, vibrant use of color and simplified forms. Matisse, along with artists like André Derain and Raoul Dufy, played a significant role in shaping and popularizing this movement.

How did Henri Matisse contribute to the art world?

Matisse made significant contributions to the art world through his innovative use of color, form, and composition. He challenged traditional artistic conventions and developed a unique style characterized by expressive brushwork, vivid colors, and a sense of movement. His work had a profound influence on subsequent art movements and inspired generations of artists.

What was the “cut-out” technique used by Matisse?

In the later years of his career, due to declining health, Matisse began using a technique called “cut-outs.” He would cut shapes out of painted or colored papers and arrange them into compositions, often on a large scale. Some famous examples of his cut-outs include “The Snail” and the “Blue Nudes” series. This technique allowed him to explore new forms of expression and create vibrant, dynamic compositions.

How would you describe Henri Matisse’s artistic style?

Henri Matisse’s artistic style evolved throughout his career, but he is generally known for his use of bold colors, simplified forms, and a sense of fluidity and movement. His works often have a joyful, decorative quality, and he had a keen sense of capturing the essence of a subject. Matisse’s style is characterized by his ability to balance simplicity and complexity, resulting in visually striking and emotionally evocative artworks.

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