The Rose Marble Table

The Rose Marble Table is an essential oil on canvas painting created by Henri Matisse in 1917. This celebrated work was produced during a critical transitional phase in the artist's career, specifically in Issy-les-Moulineaux during the spring and summer of that year. The painting utilizes the rich texture and enduring color afforded by oil on canvas, reflecting the French tradition of applying advanced color theory to intimate interior settings.

Matisse typically focused on domestic interiors and still life subjects during his period working near Paris. Although the specific compositional elements are suggested by the title, the viewer is primarily drawn into the exploration of form and spatial organization on the canvas. The treatment of the central object, the rose marble table, showcases the balance between formal structure and expressive color that characterized Matisse’s artistic practice following his Fauvist period.

This particular work exemplifies a moment when Matisse sought to reconcile his commitment to saturated hues and simplified forms with a newfound interest in classical structure and precise drafting. During the Issy-les-Moulineaux, spring-summer 1917 period, Matisse experimented heavily with defined planes and geometric compositions, moving away from the more fluid expressionism of earlier years. The careful delineation of the table and its surroundings demonstrates the artist's dedication to balancing abstraction with recognizable reality.

As a significant example of French modernism, this painting anchors the context of European art during World War I, demonstrating Matisse's ability to maintain aesthetic focus amidst historical turmoil. The work is a vital component of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It continues to be studied as a definitive example of Matisse's evolving approach to still life composition, and high-quality prints derived from the original often allow broader public access to this essential piece by the master painter.