Quotes highlighting Matisse’s mastery of colour, his ability to capture the human figure, his profound impact on the art world, and the joyous, life-affirming qualities of his work. They reflect the admiration and recognition Matisse has received from art critics for his significant contributions to modern art.
“Matisse is a colourist of genius.” – Guillaume Apollinaire
“His work has an extraordinary quality of ecstasy and of finality, as though Matisse were the last painter there could ever be.” – Clement Greenberg
“Matisse has always concentrated on the human figure; and his art is at its best when he is in direct contact with his subject.” – Hilton Kramer
“He has shown us that color can be both an intellectual and emotional stimulant, and that it can be employed to engage our imaginations in powerful and profound ways.” – Jack Flam
“Matisse’s greatest achievement was to infuse his subjects with such a vitality, such an expressive force, that they became archetypal emblems of the human condition.” – John Golding
“In Matisse, color attains an autonomous life; it becomes a reality in itself, reaching out beyond the representational function of depicting the visible world.” – John Elderfield
“Matisse represents the quintessence of humanism, an art that celebrates the joy of living and the beauty of the world.” – Pierre Schneider
“His art breathes a spirit of affirmation and celebration, a joie de vivre that is infectious and uplifting.” – Rebecca Rabinow