Artwork
Katia à la chemise jaune
Katia à la chemise jaune is an unspecified painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Henri Matisse. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
About this work
Overview
Henri Matisse completed the work titled Katia à la chemise jaune in 1951, during the final phase of his artistic career when he concentrated on reducing forms to their most essential, expressive elements. The painting is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon and exemplifies the artist’s sustained interest in vivid coloration and fluid line work.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a seated figure turned toward the right edge of the picture plane, the head inclined slightly in that direction. The subject is rendered in a bright yellow hue, outlined with stark black strokes, and dressed in a skirt patterned with green and blue motifs. The overall composition conveys a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Matisse employs a pared‑down visual language, using bold, uninterrupted lines to define the figure’s silhouette while the surrounding space is filled with a light blue background. The limited palette of saturated yellow, green, blue and black reflects his late‑period emphasis on color as a structural element, aligning the work with the broader currents of abstract expressionist painting.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Matisse’s life, the painting illustrates his continued experimentation with simplified, expressive forms after decades of work in painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture. After its completion, the piece entered the holdings of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s modern art holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (French:; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship.
