Col or

Utilizing color in a revolutionary manner so as to be recognizable to the human eye while remaining exceptionally complex is the foundation of Fauvism. Deviating from the Impressionist movement, Fauvism embraced bold, vibrant colors portraying the strong emotions of painted subjects. Often depicting abnormal figures and shapes, Fauvists sought to introduce a new perspective of painting to society, one that rejected the standard color wheel theory and instead chose colors derived from feeling and energy.

Henri Matisse, the deemed father of Fauvism, introduced France to the use of outrageous colors to depict scenes that appeared to reflect a reality dominated by color (Scott, 2019). Matisse viewed colors in an interpretive way, saying, “When I put down a green, it doesn’t mean grass; and when I put down a blue, it doesn’t mean the sky” (Scott, 2019). Dance, one of his most well-known pieces, features figures interlocked in a circle, painted in vivid red. Shocking many with its strongly-colored and suggestive nature, Dance depicts ambiguous, bright red nude figures dancing against a contrastingly blue and green background (Art Analysis: Dance by Henri Matisse, 2019).

Matisse’s desire to create The Joy of Life, a piece of controversy in the same vein, only grew after the negative criticism he received. Nude figures are composed of primary colors using a light brush stroke. Characterized by bright yellow grass and a rich red sky, a beautiful contrast exists between the surrounding environment and the figures, highlighting the piece’s compelling emotionality.