Henri Matisse (by Ethan)

Henri Matisse was one of the brightest and greatest artists in the 1900s. He always sought new ways of painting and fought against darkness throughout his life

He was born on December 31, 1869 in Le Cateau-Cambresis and grew up in Bohain-en-Vermandois. His family owned a shop that sold seeds, grains and household goods to the people. At 21, appendicitis struck him and forced Matisse to lay in bed for one year. Mrs. Matisse, his mother, gave him a set of water colors so he would have something to do. The moment he used them, he didn't feel bored anymore. He found out that painting was something he'd been dying to do!

Soon he was painting tons of pictures. Heaped up in his mind were tons of bright, beautiful colors and simple pretty shapes. Brighter and brighter his paintings got until they were stunning as the view one sees on a fine sunny day.

Henri Matisse is so famous because of his bright, immense beautiful paintings and paper cutouts. When he was old, ill and too weak to pick up his paint brushes, he discovered that he could "paint" with scissors. This type of work of his is done by cutting out brightly-colored paper painted with gouache, then arrange the paper shapes onto a large sheet of gouache-painted paper(sometimes without gouache) and, Tada! You have your very own Matisse paper cutout!

Matisse first started Fauvism with his friend and painter, Andre Derain. Soon, Fauvism was spreading to other artists. People were insulted by the bright, unusual colors. Fauves means "wild beasts" in French, which is what makes it such a suitable name for this painting style.

Later, Matisse's works were greatly admired by people all over the place. If it wasn't for Matisse, modern art wouldn't be like this! A big salute to Matisse.

Matisse also got along with his other fellow artists and often painted like them. Sometimes Henri's art work looks like Picasso's; sometimes like Derain's and sometimes like Georges Braque's, another friend of his.

Just like Matisse, I like to cut stuff, and I think his works look brilliant. If you like paper cutouts, give me thumbs up!