Así es... Matisse

Trained originally in the French classical manner, Matisse was inspired by the Impressionists and Cézanne to create a style that brought out the beauty of color, form and line by reducing them to the bare essentials. While considered a leader of the Fauves and an inspiration to most of the great figures in modern art, he wasn't interested in being associated with any school or trend. A family man who worked 'office hours' in his studio, he defies the image of the artist as a tortured soul. In a career spanning six decades, he produced masterpiece after masterpiece that constantly challenge how we perceive color and form.

Catherine Ingram is an art historian. She has taught at Christie’s and the Tate Gallery and lectured at Imperial College. Agnès Decourchelle received her diploma in illustration in Paris and an MA in Art and Design Communication.