Matisse, Henry. Conversation Hermitage ~ part 08
Hermitage ~ part 08 – Matisse, Henry. Conversation
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At first it may seem that Matisse is depicting a thoroughly banal scene that can happen on any given day. We see a husband and wife talking in the morning. In the characters one can guess the artist himself and his wife. This is not easy to do, as Matisse deliberately makes the characters’ features schematic. But if you start to analyze the painting more deeply, it becomes clear that not everything is so simple.
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Description of the painting "Conversation" by Henri Matisse
At first it may seem that Matisse is depicting a thoroughly banal scene that can happen on any given day. We see a husband and wife talking in the morning.
In the characters one can guess the artist himself and his wife. This is not easy to do, as Matisse deliberately makes the characters’ features schematic.
But if you start to analyze the painting more deeply, it becomes clear that not everything is so simple. The artist interprets reality in a special way.
The blue background is not just a wall color. It develops into an important symbol, becoming an important idea of the space as a whole. The blue is incredibly significant. It fascinates the whole viewer.
Our subconscious mind wonderfully retreats into the magical depths of the sea, to the peace and quiet. It is a special source of life. It is from here that all life originated. The color green is also very important. It symbolizes nature, fertility. In the center we see the tree of life, which represents since ancient times the whole cycle of life.
The figures of a man and a woman are also iconic. They become a vivid embodiment of feminine and masculine principles. To express the masculine, the artist uses vertical straight lines. For the feminine, he uses elegantly curved lines, which impress with incredible fluidity. This union is eternal. Thanks to him, a new life is born.
A tree is depicted between them to symbolize life. The grid is made up of different lines. It is she who becomes the unusual bridge between the woman and the man. There is no perspective in this painting.
The artist depicts the objects in a completely different way than they are in reality. What is important to the painter is not the things, but the special relationship that occurs between them. He is interested in age-old connections. The idea becomes universal and grounded. The consciousness involuntarily goes back to a distant antiquity.
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To the right, a woman is seated in a simple blue chair, facing left in profile. She has long, dark hair and is wearing a dark dress with a contrasting green neckline. Her left arm rests on the arm of the chair, and her hands are clasped. Her gaze is fixed upwards and to the right, also away from the viewer, seemingly lost in thought or looking out of the window.
Behind the figures, a window opens to a stylized garden scene. A tree with a red trunk and green foliage dominates the middle ground. Beyond the tree, a balustrade with decorative wrought ironwork separates the interior from the outdoor space. The garden itself is depicted with broad strokes of green, punctuated by irregular patches of blue adorned with small red dots. In the background, hints of architectural elements in pink and purple are visible.
The subtexts of Conversation are open to interpretation, but the title itself suggests a dialogue, either spoken or internal. The two figures, despite being in the same space, appear to be in separate worlds, their gazes directed away from each other and the viewer. This creates a sense of isolation or a private moment being shared, or perhaps a lack of connection. The bold, flat colors and simplified forms, characteristic of Matisses Fauvist style at the time, contribute to the emotional intensity and suggest a focus on feeling and atmosphere rather than strict realism. The vibrant blue background amplifies the sense of mood, potentially conveying calmness, depth, or even melancholy. The contrast between the interior, where the figures are, and the bright, stylized garden could symbolize a contrast between internal and external realities, or perhaps a longing for the outdoors. The painting invites the viewer to ponder the nature of human connection, individual contemplation, and the unspoken narratives that exist between people.