Young Woman in a White Pelisse
- Original dimensions
- 60 x 73 cm
- Museum
- Grenoble Museum
- Year
- 1944
Scene depicted
In this painting, Matisse chooses to capture a feminine silhouette imbued with grace. The delicate seating and the play of folds of the fur coat highlight the softness of her face. The canvas traverses light and shadow, creating an atmosphere where time seems suspended, echoing the timeless beauty of femininity.
Historical context
Created in 1944, in the heart of the city of Grenoble, this painting is emblematic of the Fauvist movement. In a context of historical upheaval, Young Woman in a White Fur Coat emanates from a creative surge and a liberation of colors. Today, this canvas is preserved within the Grenoble Museum , revealing its dimensions of 60 x 73 cm with captivating intensity.
Place in the artist's career
Young Woman in a White Fur Coat represents a pivotal period in Matisse's career, transitioning from a meteoric success to a stylized maturation. In parallel, works such as The Dance and The Flowers of Evil testify to the evolution of his aesthetic towards the free expression of colors and forms.
Anecdote
“Painting must be a complete joy, a happiness of existence,” Matisse is said to have remarked one spring morning in the face of a ray of light. Inspired by the beauty of simple lives, he crossed the gaze of a young woman, dressed in an immaculate fur coat. This fleeting moment, imbued with emotion, gives this pictorial work an unparalleled evocative power.