Matisse, Henri – The Red Room (Harmony in Red) Hermitage ~ part 14 (Hi Resolution images)

This painting, The Red Room (Harmony in Red) by Henri Matisse, depicts a vibrant interior scene dominated by the color red. The walls are covered in a bold red wallpaper with a dark blue floral pattern. On the walls, two decorative blue vases with stylized floral motifs are visible. A large window on the left reveals a simplified view of a green garden with trees, a house, and scattered yellow dots representing flowers or light.
In the foreground, a table is draped with a red tablecloth that echoes the pattern of the wallpaper. The table is abundantly set with various objects: a bowl filled with fruit, a vase with a bouquet of red flowers, and several bottles containing yellow and reddish liquids. To the right, a woman with auburn hair pulled up is seen from the side, wearing a dark blue top and a white apron. She is leaning over the table, seemingly arranging or inspecting a bowl of colorful fruits. A red chair with a woven straw seat is partially visible on the left, and another chair is behind the woman.
The paintings subtext lies in its radical use of color and flat planes, characteristic of Fauvism. Matisse sought to convey emotion and harmony through pure color rather than representational accuracy. The overwhelming presence of red is intended to create a sense of warmth, passion, and perhaps even tension. The flattening of perspective and the merging of the interior space with the exterior view through the window suggest a fluid relationship between the inside and outside worlds. The decorative patterns create a sense of rhythm and unity throughout the composition. The scene, while domestic and seemingly tranquil, is energized by the artists bold approach to color and form, inviting the viewer to experience a sensory and emotional response to the composition.