Petite arabesque bleue sur fond vert
1947
About this artwork
This work is a cut-paper maquette (gouache découpée) featuring a fluid blue organic shape set against a bright green background. It belongs to Matisse's late career, when he turned to paper cut-outs as his primary medium.
Did you know?
In his later years, struggling with declining health and mobility, Henri Matisse revolutionized his artistic process by 'drawing with scissors.' He would have his assistants paint large sheets of paper with gouache, which he then cut into bold, expressive shapes and arranged into compositions like this one. This technique allowed him to explore color and form in their purest state, bypassing the need for traditional painting tools.
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Petite arabesque bleue sur fond vert
Henri Matisse, 1947
