Henri Matisse once shocked Paris with paintings in colors nobody expected: green shadows on a face, a red sea, purple trees. Today those same colors are exactly what make a Matisse print so good at lifting a plain room.

Who was Henri Matisse?

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter. In 1905 he and André Derain showed paintings in such bright, “unreal” colors that a critic called them fauves — wild beasts. The name stuck, and Fauvism became one of the first big movements of modern art.

Three Matisse periods to know

1. Fauvism (around 1905–1908)

Pure, strong color and quick brushwork. Landscapes of the fishing port of Collioure and portraits with colorful faces. Best for a room that needs energy.

2. Nice interiors (from 1917)

Matisse moved to Nice on the French Riviera. He painted sunny rooms with open windows, patterned fabrics, flowers and goldfish bowls. These are softer and more decorative — lovely in a bedroom or living room.

3. Paper cut-outs (1940s–1950s)

Late in life, when illness made painting hard, Matisse cut shapes from paper painted with gouache and arranged them into bold compositions of leaves, stars and figures. They look strikingly modern and suit minimal, white rooms.

How to use a Matisse print

• Pick one color from the print and repeat it in a cushion, vase or rug. The room instantly feels designed.
• White or light walls let Matisse’s colors shine. On a dark wall, choose a print with a lot of white or light background.
• A thin black or natural wood frame keeps the focus on the color.
• Kitchens and dining rooms: his fruit and flower still lifes feel fresh and cheerful.

Browse our Henri Matisse prints and posters, or see the work of his fellow Fauve André Derain. Every print is made to order with free shipping.