Composition

"Composition" is a seminal painting created by Henri Matisse in 1915. This large-scale oil on canvas work marks a significant moment in the French artist’s transition toward increasing abstraction during the First World War. Executed in his studio at Issy-les-Moulineaux, 1915, this period saw Matisse moving away from the expressive, joyous color of his earlier Fauvist output toward a more structured, planar approach influenced partly by Cubist concerns and the emotional gravity of the war years.

In this powerful work, Matisse explores the fundamental geometry of painting, utilizing broad, flattened areas of color defined by stark linear divisions. The absence of traditional perspective and modeled form emphasizes the flatness of the picture plane. While still rooted in the observation of form, the subject matter is heavily abstracted, relying instead on the internal dynamics of line, plane, and limited palette to generate visual force. This strategic reduction highlights Matisse's enduring commitment to formal organization, a core concern that would influence his output throughout the following decade.

This pivotal piece reflects the rigorous formal experimentation typical of French modernism during the mid-1910s. Matisse’s enduring legacy is built upon challenging canvases like Composition, which demanded the viewer rethink the basic structure of painting. The work’s historical significance is immense, providing critical insight into the evolution of post-Impressionist thought. Currently residing in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the painting remains a crucial reference point for art historians. Due to its status as a cornerstone of early 20th-century art, high-quality prints of this important modernist canvas are widely sought after by collectors and students globally.