Intermediate 1/2
Art Studies
Still Life
Henri Matisse
Wayne Thiebaud
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
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Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a French painter
and sculptor.
Originally a law student, Matisse began to paint
following an illness and went on to become one of
the greatest artists of the modern period.
To learn about composition, he copied old
Masters in the Louvre, making his own variations.
Matisse painted many different subject matters,
from still life to figure and interior compositions.
His later work was abstract (nonrepresentational) in nature and inspired by the
natural environment. By 1905, his work began to
show an abstract use of bold colour and he
became a leader of Fauvism.
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
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‘Les Fauves’, which translates as ‘wild beasts’ in
French, were a group of artists who enjoyed
painting pictures with outrageously bold colours.
They received this title from a critic who was
amused by this use of exaggerated colour, but
many at the time did not like their work, feeling it
too uncontrolled.
‘Les Fauves’ were the first group of artists to use
colour to express their feelings about a subject,
rather than just to describe it. Their paintings
are known for being joyous and free.
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
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Part of Matisse’s success lay in realising the
importance of simplicity in his drawing if using
strong and exaggerated colour. By intensifying
colours for expressive effect, he reduced the
amount of detail in the shapes and forms of his
chosen image.
Matisse’s paintings commonly feature strong,
vibrant colour, bold pattern and simple shapes.
He worked loosely with his brushstrokes to create
a sense of vitality and energy.
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
In his later years, illness confined Matisse
to a wheelchair and he struggled to paint.
Instead he developed a collage technique,
cutting shapes from colour paper. This
work is actually among some of his best
loved today.
 The reinvention of his style at an older age
is proof of Matisse’s creative genius.
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‘Bouquet Vase with Two Handles’
Oil on canvas (1907)
‘Still Life with Oranges’
Oil on canvas (1913)
‘Still Life with Oysters’
Oil on canvas (1940)
‘Interior with Eggplants’
Oil on canvas (1911)
‘Still Life with Magnolia’
Oil on canvas (1941)
‘Interior with an Egyptian Curtain’
Oil on canvas (1952)
Wayne Thiebaud (1920-present)
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Wayne Thiebaud (pronounced Tee-bo) is an
American painter whose most famous works
include still life arrangements of cakes, pastries,
sweets and cosmetics.
As a teenager, Thiebaud was inspired by comic
strips, establishing himself as a cartoonist and
working for a time as an animator for Walt Disney
Studios. He also spent time as a poster designer
and commercial artist before deciding to become
a painter, which can explain the pure visual style
of his work.
Wayne Thiebaud (1920-present)
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Thiebaud works in a very controlled way,
using thick paint, exaggerated colour and
carefully defined shadows to create very
true to life pieces. Later in his career, he
began to explore printmaking, which
suited his clean, vivid style well.
Wayne Thiebaud (1920-present)
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He is associated with the Pop Art movement
because of his interest in objects of mass culture
although most of his work was created prior to
this movement, in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Where
Pop Art reflected modern America and
consumerism (think of Andy Warhol’s Campbell
Soup, Coca-Cola and Marilyn Monroe images),
Thiebaud’s subjects take a more nostalgic view.
He is also associated with photorealism, due to
the graphic representational style of his work.
‘Cakes’
Oil on canvas (1963)
‘Confections’
Oil on linen (1972)
‘Big Suckers’
Aquatint in colour (1970-71)
‘Eight Lipsticks’
Etching and aquatint (1988)
‘Celebration Cakes’
Pastel on paper (1996)
‘Cake Window (Seven Cakes)’
Oil on canvas (1970-76)