La cheminée du Roi, Marseille
1917
About this artwork
This oil on canvas depicts a busy harbor scene in Marseille with figures in the foreground and ships anchored in the background. It is executed with the bold, simplified forms and expressive brushwork characteristic of Matisse's later period.
Did you know?
This painting marks a period where Matisse began to move away from the wilder color experiments of his earlier Fauvist work toward a more nuanced and structured style. During his time in Marseille, he was deeply fascinated by the interplay between the bustling industrial port and the relaxed lifestyle of the southern French coast, often capturing the harbor from multiple perspectives. The 'Cheminée du Roi' refers to a specific industrial chimney that was a prominent landmark in the harbor area at the time.
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La cheminée du Roi, Marseille
Henri Matisse, 1917
