Studio, Quai Saint-Michel

This painting is part of a series Matisse created in his rented studio on the Quai Saint-Michel where he worked from 1894-1907 and again in 1913. The windows of this  studio overlooked the Seine and provided an uninterrupted view of Notre-Dame Cathedral. In this particular rendering Matisse has provided a view of the Palais du Justice and Sainte Chapelle. The thin layers of paint reveal a multitude of lines show giving us insight into the working process of Matisse. Within the room Matisse has portrayed several traditional motifs including; the artist’s studio, the reclining nude, a still life, and a painting within a painting. ‘Matisse has radically simplified the objects and warped the perspective so they appear flattened against the picture plane giving these traditional motifs a modern spin. ‘

Original Medium: Oil on canvas

Original Size: 58 1/4 x 46 in

Date: 1916

Location: Phillips Collection