The World of Art Through Collidescope Eyes: Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso

During their careers both Matisse and Picasso strove to break the tradition of art. In the 20th century period of modern art Picasso and Matisse considered each other brilliant equals. Picasso had many different periods of art within his work, but is best known for his work and creation of cubism. Matisse is well recognized for his leadership in the art style of fauvism. Cubism is abstract art with many colors and shapes. Fauvism is a style of painting with vivid and non-naturalistic use of color.

Henri Matisse was born in Northern France 1869. He started to be involved in the world of art after he suffered from appendicitis and was confined to his bed for months. His first art supplies were bought for him by his mother and so, he began painting. He then traveled to Paris to study painting. A decade after he finished his studies in Paris he became recognized as a leader of the bold painting style of fauvism. Four of his most famous works are Woman with a Hat, The Dance, Blue Nude, and Green Stripe. All of his works depict people as being colorful and lively.

Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 in Spain. Picasso’s formal art training ended in 1897. Soon after, with the help of George Baraque, he created the painting style of cubism. Picasso and Baraque started a new vision and abstract expression of the facial features and anatomy of the human body. Even though Picasso’s work seemed awkward, that in itself and his use of vibrant colors that made it so appealing. Four of his most famous works are Guernica, Dora Maar au Chat, The Weeping Woman, The Three Dancers. Just as Matisse’ s works of art depict people using color, Picasso’s do as well.