13 Most Famous Painting by Henri Matisse You Should See

Looking for the most famous painting by Henri Matisse? From Dance to Woman Reading, this post will show you all the best works of Henri Matisse.

French visual artist Henri Émile Benoît Matisse, famously known as Henri Matisse is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century art.

He primarily contributed to the art movement known as Fauvism, which emerged in France in the early 20th century but lasted only a few years.

It was characterized by its usage of bold, bright colors, often dissimilar to the subject’s natural colors to create a sense of emotional intensity.

Contributing to the short-lived Fauvism movement, he and a few others were known as Fauves (French for wild beasts).

Matisse’s work and style changed over the years, being influenced by other art movements, including Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Modernism.

To help you gain a deeper understanding of one of the most famous French painters, I’ve put together this article with 13 of the most famous paintings by Matisse detailing the story behind them.

13 Most famous painting by Henri Matisse

Throughout his long career, unaffected by the decline of Fauvism, Henri Matisse produced numerous paintings that are now considered masterpieces of modern art.

From one of his first paintings, Woman Reading (1895), to one of his last, Le Bateau (1954), Matisse’s innovative use of color, form, and expression inspired countless artists who came after him.

Here are 13 of Matisse’s most famous paintings

1. Dance (1910)

We start with one of Henri Matisse’s most famous paintings, Dance (1910) which depicts a group of figures dancing in a circle.

Its vibrant Fauvist colors — rich reds, blues, and greens — create an intense emotional impact, emphasizing rhythm and movement over proportion.

Matisse painted it as a commission from a wealthy Russian businessman and art collector, Sergei Shchukin, who wanted a large decorative panel to adorn the staircase of his Moscow mansion.

He bequeathed it to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where it still hangs up to date!

Related post: Famous Paintings by Auguste Renoir

2. The Red Studio/L’Atelier Rouge (1911)

Among Matisse’s artworks, L’Atelier Rouge, painted in 1911 is one of the most influential works of modern art.

Dominated by hues of rusty red, as the name suggests, it was Matisse’s studio that he had built for himself in 1909.

Various objects and pieces of furniture are scattered throughout the space, seemingly suspended, including a table, a vase, a grandfather clock, a chair, and paintings everywhere.

The forms of these objects are simplified and abstracted while the colors used contrast with the dominating red.

You can find it at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

3. the Dance II / La Danse II (1932-33)

A sequel to Dance (1910), The Dance II showcases simplified abstract, monochromatic figures against a colorful backdrop.

It was created in 1932 at the request of Albert C. Barnes, a long-time admirer and collector of Matisse’s works.

Barnes wanted a mural that could span the windows of his foundation, the Barnes Foundation, hence, the painting had to be large-scale and took Matisse two years to complete, although they had initially anticipated a year.

The artwork is a triptych mural divided into three sections on three panels hinged together.

4. Woman with a Hat / La femme au chapeau (1905)

La femme au chapeau is one of Matisse’s earliest paintings from the Fauvist movement.

An oil on canvas artwork painted in 1905, it depicts Matisse’s wife, Amélie, in bold, bright colors adorning a hat.

Matisse used expressive brushstrokes and non-naturalistic colors, a style the art world wasn’t used to seeing.

This unconventional style and “unfinished” look led to the artwork being met with a lot of criticism and the media considered it “madness.”

Despite initial criticism, the painting was acquired by the Steins (An American family who appreciated this kind of style).

The Haas family later bought it and ultimately donated it to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where it remains today.

5. The Joy of Life / Le bonheur de vivre (1906)

Le bonheur de vivre is a large oil painting on canvas depicting nude figures in a lush, idyllic landscape.

It features loose, expressive brushwork and a non-naturalistic color palette that are hallmarks of the Fauvist style.

As Matisse’s earlier Fauvist works, The Joy of Life also caused outrage when it was first revealed to the public for being abstract and using vivid cadmium colors.

The ambiguous setting of this painting is dreamlike, depicting an almost utopian early-mankind world.

Like La Danse II, this painting is also a part of the permanent collection at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia after being acquired by collector Albert C. Barnes in 1922.

6. Music (1910)

Alongside Dance (1910), Music was part of a larger commission by Russian art collector Sergei Shchukin.

This painting is a striking example of Fauvism, characterized by bold colors and simplified forms.

The composition includes five figures — two playing instruments and three sitting on the side — set against a vivid green background which highlights the contrast with their red bodies.

Matisse painted Music without any preparatory sketches and as a result, the painting carries visible traces of adjustments, offering insight into Matisse’s creative process as he sought to achieve the desired effect.

The figures are also stylized almost abstract, reflecting Matisse’s shift away from realism to capture the emotional and sensory experience of music.

Currently, Music is housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

7. Nu bleu/Blue Nude (1907)

Blue Nude, also called Souvenir of Biskra, is also an oil painting on canvas like his earlier works around the same time.

Taking inspiration from a sculpture he was working on at the time, which accidentally got damaged, Matisse painted a nude woman in a reclining pose with one leg over the other and an arm bent against her head.

The woman is in shades of blue in front of color-contrasting palm fronds. The colors used were unrealistic, with the painting having a sketch-like appearance.

Today, you can find it at the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland, USA.

8. Bathers by a River (1909-17)

Russian art collector Sergei Shchukin had commissioned Bathers by a River but later rejected it after seeing an initial watercolor draft.

It was to be a part of three pastoral works of idyllic scenes for Shchukin’s mansion, from which he bought the other two.

Despite the rejection, Matisse continued working on it for eight years, resulting in one of his most important artworks.

The canvas has four columnar sections, each with faceless, abstract figures and a somber palette of green (foliage), black (river), white, and grey.

Through the painting, you get to see the evolution of his style over the years from Fauvism to Cubism.

It is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States.

9. Open Window, Collioure (1905)

Open Window, Collioure depicts a view of the Mediterranean Sea and the town of Collioure in the South of France, as seen through an open window of Matisse’s apartment.

His love for bright colors and open windows shows while the bold brushstrokes and vibrant atmosphere of the seaside town are what will capture your attention.

In fact, this is part of his early works of the Fauvist style that he was later known for. Another thing that stands out in the painting is the usage of complementary colors, creating a sense of vibrancy.

The artwork has been housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., since 1998.

Related post: Famous Paintings by Claude Monet

10. The Dessert: Harmony in Red (1908)

The Dessert: Harmony in Red is a significant work that showcases Matisse’s bold use of color and form.

Originally painted in blue, and meant to be “Harmony in Blue“, Matisse changed the dominant color to red to better achieve the visual impact he sought.

The painting features a domestic scene with a woman arranging fruits on a table, with the entire room filled with shades of red.

This choice of color was unusual and striking, reflecting Matisse’s departure from traditional realism in favor of the vibrant, expressive style that characterized Fauvism.

The piece is often noted for its flat perspective and the way patterns on the tablecloth and walls seem to merge, creating a unified and decorative composition.

This was a deliberate choice by Matisse to emphasize the painting’s overall aesthetic rather than focusing on depth or realism.

Currently, it is housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia and it remains one of Matisse’s most recognized works.

11. The Green Stripe (Madame Matisse) (1905)

The Green Stripe is a portrait of his wife, Amélie Matisse. The stripe refers to the distinctive green band that divides Amélie’s face into two halves.

She is depicted with her hair in a bun, and the background has red, orange, and green hues.

Matisse faced criticism for this painting because of the unnatural and strange depiction of his wife.

Unlike most of Matisse’s other artwork that are located either in the USA or Russia, this one is at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark.

12. Luxe, Calme et Volupté/Luxury, Calm and Pleasure (1904)

Luxe, Calme et Volupté depicts a scene of leisurely relaxation, with several nude figures lounging in a serene, idyllic landscape.

Of all the famous Henri Matisse paintings, this one played a pivotal role in the beginning of his Fauvist style, but it also has a hint of Neo-Impressionist style.

Additionally, he used a technique called Divisionism, where dots of colors are placed strategically to take shape from a distance.

The artwork has a myriad of vivid, contrasting colors and is notable for its dreamlike quality.

It is currently displayed at Centre Pompidou in Paris.

13. Woman Reading (1895)

A realistically styled painting with a subdued color palette, Woman Reading has a young woman dressed in black sitting in a chair with her back to the viewer, reading a book.

Seemingly a quiet, intimate domestic scene, Matisse probably wanted to depict everyday life and regular people through it.

Like Luxe, Calme et Volupté, this artwork also calls France home, specifically the Musée Matisse in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, a museum established by Matisse himself in 1952 to showcase his works.

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Final Thoughts on The famous painting by Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse’s legacy as an artist is undeniable.

Whether you’re just discovering the famous paintings by Henri Matisse for the first time or are an existing fan of his work, I hope this article has given you a deeper appreciation for the incredible impact his art has had on the world.

Let me know what you think of his works and which ones are your favorite in the comments below.

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