131. Goldfish. Henri Matisse. 1912 CE. Oil on canvas.

• Form
  • Strong contrasts of color
  • Thinly applied colors; the white canvas shows through
  • Energetic, painterly brushwork
  • Broad patches of color anticipate color-field painting later in the century
• Content
  • Still-life painting
  • Compare to Ruysch, Fruit and Insects, and Daguerre, Still Life in Studio
• Context
  • May have been in response to a trip in Morocco, where Matisse noted how the local population would daydream for hours, gazing into goldfish bowls. Form, Color, and subject matter were inspired by this trip
  • Admired the relaxed and contemplative lifestyle of the Moroccans, which symbolized a meditative state of mind and a sense of paradise lost to Europeans.
  • May have been influenced by the decorative quality of Asian art and diverse cultures from North Africa.