Who is Henri Matisse? Art History for Kids
Henri Matisse is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, known for his bold colors, expressive shapes, and later, his revolutionary cut-outs.
But what makes him such a great artist for kids? His work is full of vibrant energy, playful forms, and a sense of freedom that naturally appeals to young learners.
In this post, you’ll find a kid-friendly introduction to Matisse, including a biography, key artworks, inspirations, and artistic style.
You’ll also discover Matisse-inspired art projects, picture books, fun facts, and additional resources to help kids engage with his work in creative and meaningful ways.
Table of Contents
Henri Matisse: Biography and Key Works
Early Life and Influences (1869–1899)
Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in northern France, far from the avant-garde art world of Paris. Unlike many artists, he didn’t begin his career in art—he studied law and worked as a legal clerk before an illness in his early 20s led him to painting. Recovering from appendicitis, Matisse picked up a paintbrush for the first time, and the experience was transformative.
“From the moment I held the box of colors in my hands,” he later wrote, “I knew this was my life.”
Matisse’s early works were influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, particularly Paul Cézanne’s structured compositions and use of color. He deeply admired Cézanne’s Three Bathers (1879–82) and even went into debt to purchase it. Matisse studied at the Académie Julian and later under Gustave Moreau, who encouraged him to develop his own style.
Key Artworks from This Period:
Still Life with Oranges, Henri Matisse, 1898
This early work shows Cézanne’s influence in its structured composition and bold brushwork.
While still rooted in tradition, hints of Matisse’s future love for color and simplified forms are already visible.
The Luxembourg Gardens, Henri Matisse, 1901
In this painting, Matisse captures the essence of Paris’s beloved Luxembourg Gardens.
The work showcases his transition from traditional Impressionism to a more vibrant and expressive style, hinting at the bold colors and forms that would later define Fauvism.
The Fauvist Years: The First Art Revolution of the 20th Century (1905–1910)
In 1905, Matisse, along with André Derain, led a new movement called Fauvism (from the French les fauves, or “wild beasts”). The Fauvists rejected traditional perspective and naturalistic colors, instead using bold, non-representational hues to express emotion.
Matisse explained this approach by 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.”
His radical use of color shocked critics and audiences, especially in the United States, where some found his work offensive. The Blue Nude (1907–08) was so controversial that, when exhibited in Chicago, students at the Art Institute burned an effigy of the painting.
Yet Matisse’s work attracted visionary patrons, including Russian collector Sergei Shchukin, who famously wrote to the artist:
“The public is against you, but the future is yours.”
Key Fauvist Works
Woman with a Hat (1905)
This portrait of Matisse’s wife, Amélie, marked a significant departure from traditional portraiture.
Exhibited at the 1905 Salon d’Automne, its bold, non-naturalistic colors led critics to label Matisse and his peers as “Fauves” or “wild beasts,” signaling the birth of Fauvism.
Dance (I) (1909)
Commissioned by Russian collector Sergei Shchukin, this painting features five figures in a circular dance.
The simplified forms and rhythmic composition highlight Matisse’s interest in primitive art and abstraction, moving further from his earlier detailed work.
Le Bonheur de Vivre (The Joy of Life) (1905-1906)
This large-scale work showcases a pastoral scene with nude figures in a vibrant landscape.
It represents a synthesis of Matisse’s exploration of color and form, moving beyond Fauvism towards a more decorative and harmonious composition.
Matisse and the Paris Avant-Garde (1906–1917)
By 1906, Matisse had become a central figure in the Parisian avant-garde, forming a friendly but competitive relationship with Pablo Picasso. The two were often compared, shaping modern art through their dialogue.
During this time, Matisse was supported by Gertrude Stein and the Cone sisters, three wealthy American patrons who built some of the most significant collections of his work.
Between 1906 and 1917, Matisse lived at the Hôtel Biron, an 18th-century mansion in Paris that also housed artists like Jean Cocteau, Isadora Duncan, and Auguste Rodin.
His studio became a meeting place for leading figures in modernism.
Key Artworks from This Period:
L’Atelier Rouge (The Red Studio) (1911)
Depicting Matisse’s workspace, this painting is dominated by a rich red hue, flattening the perspective and emphasizing the objects within the studio.
It reflects Matisse’s move towards abstraction and his focus on color as a primary expressive element.
Goldfish (1912)
Inspired by his trip to Morocco, this work features a still life of goldfish, reflecting his fascination with the color blue and Islamic art.
The painting’s decorative patterns and flattened perspective showcase Matisse’s incorporation of non-Western artistic influences.
Matisse and Morocco
In 1912, Henri Matisse traveled to Morocco, a trip that profoundly influenced his use of color, light, and pattern. He was captivated by the vibrant blue tones, Islamic architecture, and richly decorated interiors, which became recurring elements in his paintings.
Matisse in the South of France: “Return to Order” (1918–1930s)
After World War I, the art world moved toward a more structured, classical approach, known as the “Return to Order”. Matisse, too, embraced more refined compositions and quieter palettes, particularly after settling in Nice in the 1920s.
During this period, he created some of his most elegant and introspective portraits, emphasizing luxurious fabrics, intimate interiors, and simplified forms.
Key Artworks from This Period:
Auguste Pellerin II (1916–1917)
This portrait of the French industrialist showcases a more subdued palette and structured composition, reflecting Matisse’s post-Fauvist exploration of form and volume, moving away from the intense colors of his earlier works.
The Painter and His Model (1916-1917)
This painting offers a glimpse into Matisse’s creative environment during World War I.
Depicting himself in his studio at 19 Quai Saint-Michel, Paris, Matisse is shown working on “Laurette in a Green Robe,” highlighting his focus on the human figure amidst the war’s turmoil.
World War II and the Nazi Occupation of France (1939–1945)
and daughter in Collioure,
South of France, Summer
1907
When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, Matisse chose to remain in France despite the occupation and growing dangers. His son Pierre Matisse had already moved to New York, but Henri, in frail health, stayed behind, continuing to work even as war disrupted daily life.
His family was deeply involved in the French Resistance. His daughter Marguerite was captured by the Gestapo, tortured in Rennes, and sentenced to Ravensbrück concentration camp, though she escaped before deportation. His estranged wife, Amélie, was also arrested and imprisoned for six months due to her underground activities.
The Nazis looted many of Matisse’s paintings, considering modern art “degenerate.” Several of his works were seized from Jewish collectors, including those of Paul Rosenberg and Alphonse Kann. Some pieces were later recovered, but others remain missing.
Meanwhile, in 1942, Pierre Matisse organized the “Artists in Exile” exhibition in New York, showcasing European artists displaced by the war.
Echaurren, Ossip Zadkine, Yves Tanguy, Max Ernst, Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger; Second row: André
Breton, Piet Mondrian, André Masson, Amédée Ozenfant, Jacques Lipchitz, Pavel Tchelitchew,
Kurt Seligmann, Eugene Berman.” Research photograph associated with the exhibition, “Matta.”
September 11, 1957–October 20, 1957. Photographic Archive. The Museum of
Modern Art Archives, New York. IN620.12. Photograph by George Platt Lynes.
The Cut-Out Years (1940s–1954)
In the 1940s, Matisse settled in Vence and Nice, embracing the warmth and light of the French Riviera. Though he lived in relative seclusion, his work remained deeply connected to the world—through correspondence, commissions, and the growing recognition of his influence.
In 1941, after undergoing surgery for cancer, Matisse was left bedridden for much of his later years. Unable to stand at an easel, he reinvented his artistic practice, developing a radical new technique that would shape modern art.
Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photographs capture Matisse in his studio during his later years, offering a rare glimpse into his creative process. See the photos here.
“Drawing with Scissors” – The Cut-Outs
1952
Photograph,
Lydia Delectorskaya-©
Succession Henri Matisse
Instead of painting, Matisse cut shapes from painted paper, arranging them into vibrant, large-scale compositions. This method allowed him to continue creating despite his physical limitations, resulting in some of his most celebrated works.
His book Jazz (1947) combined these cut-outs with handwritten reflections, blending visual art and text to express his philosophy on life, movement, and joy. Even as his body grew weaker, his art remained bold, innovative, and full of energy.
Matisse passed away in 1954 at the age of 84.
Key Artworks from This Period:
Blue Nude (1952)
Matisse called his cut-outs “drawing with scissors,” and Blue Nude II is a perfect example. The figure is bold, simple, and fluid, capturing movement with just a few shapes.
The deep blue wasn’t just a color choice—Matisse saw it as both depth and emotion, a way to express more with less.
La Gerbe (1953)
Matisse made La Gerbe for a friend who wanted a piece of his art in her garden, and it feels like something growing.
The shapes stretch upward, like leaves or flames, full of energy and movement.
The King’s Sadness (1952)
This piece feels different from Matisse’s usual bright, joyful work.
The tilted crown, slumped figure, and jagged edgessuggest something more introspective. Some say it reflects Matisse’s own declining health, but it also shows his ability to turn emotion into pure shape and color.
Fun Facts About Henri Matisse
- He didn’t set out to be an artist. Matisse originally studied law and worked as a legal clerk before discovering painting during a long illness.
- He bought a Cézanne painting while nearly broke. He was so inspired by Cézanne’s Three Bathers that he went into debt to purchase it.
- He had a lifelong creative rivalry with Picasso. Though often compared, the two artists respected and influenced each other for decades.
- His early work was so radical that it caused outrage. In 1913, students at the Art Institute of Chicago burned an effigy of Blue Nude in protest.
- His most important early collector was a Russian textile magnate. Sergei Shchukin commissioned major works like La Danse and Music.
- Matisse lived in the famous Hôtel Biron. His neighbors included Jean Cocteau, Isadora Duncan, and Auguste Rodin.
- He was an animal lover. Matisse had three cats—Minouche, Coussi, and La Puce—whom he fed brioche every morning.
- His love for doves inspired Picasso. Matisse’s pet birds influenced Picasso’s famous Dove of Peace.
- He was an avid traveler. He visited Morocco, Tahiti, and the French Riviera, all of which influenced his art.
- His final works were created from bed. After surgery left him bedridden, he developed the cut-out technique, “drawing with scissors.”
Inspiring Quotes by Henri Matisse
“Creativity takes courage.”
“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.”
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
“Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.”
“…for whether we want to or not, we belong to our time and we share in its opinions, its feelings, even its delusions.”
Art Projects Inspired by Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse’s bold use of color, shape, and movement makes his work a fantastic starting point for creative projects with kids. Whether exploring his Fauvist paintings or his later cut-out technique, Matisse’s art encourages playful experimentation with materials and composition.
✂️ Paper Cut-Out Collage (Inspired by Matisse’s Cut-Outs)
In his later years, Matisse developed a technique he called “drawing with scissors”, using painted paper and cut-out shapes to create dynamic compositions. Kids can explore this method by arranging organic and geometric forms into bold designs. (Full tutorial in my blog post! ➡️ Henri Matisse Projects for Kids)
🎨 3D Still Life Painting (Inspired by Matisse’s Flower Still Lifes)
Matisse loved painting flowers and still lifes, often using vibrant, contrasting colors. This project takes inspiration from his work by creating a layered, 3D effect using paint, paper, and cut-out elements to bring depth and movement to the composition. (Full tutorial in my blog post! ➡️ 3D Painting: Matisse Inspired Art Activity)
More Matisse-Inspired Projects
Looking for more creative ideas? In my full list of Matisse projects, you’ll find activities that explore:
- Fauvist-style painting (Inspired by Woman with a Hat)
- Patterned interiors & still life (Inspired by The Red Studio)
- Abstract shape exploration (Building from his late cut-out work)
👉 Find all these projects here: Henri Matisse Projects for Kids
Are you looking for more Matisse-inspired content? Here are all the posts featuring Henri Matisse:
The Best Picture Books About Henri Matisse
Picture books are a fantastic way to introduce children to Matisse’s bold use of color, shape, and movement. Many beautifully illustrated books explore his life, art, and creative process in an engaging and accessible way.
Some must-read classics include:
- Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter – A beautifully illustrated book about Matisse’s later years and his innovative cut-out technique.
- Drawing with Scissors by Jane O’Connor – A simple but engaging biography that captures Matisse’s creativity and passion for art.
- Matisse’s Garden by Samantha Friedman – Inspired by Jazz, this book explores how Matisse “painted with scissors” to create his famous cut-outs.
- The Iridescence of Birds by Patricia MacLachlan – A lyrical look at Matisse’s childhood and how his early experiences shaped his love for color and pattern.
Looking for more? Check out my full list of the best Matisse books for kids here:
👉 The Best Henri Matisse Kids Books.
My Favourite Books on Henri Matisse
Here are a few of my favorite books on Matisse, along with some highly rated titles. They explore different aspects of his work, from his lifelong love of color to his fascination with travel and textiles, and even the everyday objects that shaped his artistic vision.
Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs – Samantha Friedman
This book explores Matisse’s cut-out technique, developed when he could no longer paint due to illness. It was published alongside MoMA’s major 2014 exhibition on the subject, making it one of the most comprehensive resources on this period. The book includes detailed reproductions, working notes, and insights into his process, showing how these late works redefined modern art.
Henri Matisse: 1869-1954 – Master of Colour – Gilles Néret
A compact yet image-rich overview of Matisse’s career, this book covers his evolution from Fauvism to the cut-outs. Néret’s text is concise and well-structured, making it an easy read for those new to Matisse, while the high-quality reproductions provide a strong visual reference for his most significant works.
Matisse the Master: A Conquest of Colour, 1909-1954 – Hilary Spurling
This second volume of Hilary Spurling’s authoritative biography covers Matisse’s later years, including his time in Nice, his struggles during WWII, and the creation of the cut-outs. Spurling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, draws from letters, interviews, and archives, offering a deeply researched and engagingly written account of Matisse’s life and work.
Matisse: Invitation to a Voyage – Raphaël Bouvier
This book explores Matisse’s lifelong fascination with travel and how different cultures influenced his art, from Morocco to Tahiti. Richly illustrated, it highlights how color, light, and textiles shaped his vision, making it an engaging read for those interested in the global inspirations behind his work.
