Artwork
The Geranium
The Geranium is an oil painting by the Fauvist artist Henri Matisse. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a single potted geranium rendered with bright, flat color and simplified forms, a hallmark of Matisse's early fauvist still lifes.
The painting shows a single potted geranium rendered with bright, flat color and simplified forms, a hallmark of Matisse's early fauvist still lifes. The flower occupies the center of the composition, set against a muted background that emphasizes its vivid red petals and glossy leaves, suggesting a focus on the visual pleasure of the plant itself rather than any narrative content. Its depiction of a common household flower elevates everyday domestic objects to subjects worthy of artistic attention, reflecting the artist's interest in the decorative qualities of nature and the flatness of the picture plane.
Technique & Style
Henri Matisse executed The Geranium in 1906 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 100.3 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width. Classified as a still life and specifically a floral painting, the composition depicts a geranium situated in a flowerpot. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
History & Provenance
Henri Matisse created the oil painting The Geranium in 1906. The work is a still life depicting a geranium flower in a pot, executed on canvas. It measures 100.3 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Henri Matisse's 1906 painting The Geranium is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 100.3 cm in height by 81.5 cm in width. While the artwork has been documented as part of the museum's holdings since its inception in 1906, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, the available records do not contain details regarding a specific exhibition history for this still life.
Context
Henri Matisse's 1906 painting The Geranium exemplifies his early exploration of color and form within the still life genre, as documented by the Art Institute of Chicago where it remains in its collection. The work depicts a geranium in a flowerpot rendered in oil paint on canvas, reflecting Matisse's engagement with domestic subjects during the emergence of Fauvism. This painting is situated within the artist's broader oeuvre of floral still lifes that bridged Impressionist traditions and modernist abstraction, as evidenced by its classification as a still life and floral painting in contemporary records.
Its precise dimensions of 100.3 cm by 81.5 cm underscore Matisse's meticulous compositional approach during this pivotal period of his career.
Overview
Created in 1906, this oil painting by Henri Matisse presents a simple still‑life arrangement centered on a geranium in a pot. The work belongs to the artist’s early Fauvist phase, during which he explored vivid, non‑naturalistic color schemes. It is part of the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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.
