This week’s essay is to discuss Henri Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre and Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in regards to how they were inspired by Paul Cezanne’s The Large Bathers. In addition, the discussion will also include how they depart from Cezanne’s style.
Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life) depicts several nude bodies in vibrantly colored space. It is inviting and warm. It gives a nod to a time of leisure and happiness. The figures have a languid style, rounded figures. The trees and the human figures are outlined with thick, soft lines which gives the sense of continuity throughout the image. The surroundings and the figures have bold colors. The landscape and figures are a whole as opposed to the figures taking center stage while
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The art work is representative of fauvism. This image is clearly inspired by Cezanne’s The Large Bathers. The large bathers consists of several nude women gathered in an inviting, peaceful manner. It appears to be a leisurely experience as well. No political symbolism. The colors used are less bold, but still warm and natural. The lines are also soft and languid with the exception of the positioning of the women. They are positioned in a manner that conforms with the triangular shape of the background; which is different from Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre. This angular positioning causes a separation of sorts between the background and foreground and makes the naked women the focal point of the piece. In Matisse’s work, the entire painting is the focal point. There is no distinct separation. Therefore, the inspiration between the two is