Artwork
The Goldfish Bowl
The Goldfish Bowl is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Henri Matisse. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The Goldfish Bowl by Henri Matisse centers on a small group of goldfish swimming within a rounded glass vessel, rendered in oil on canvas in 1921.
The Goldfish Bowl by Henri Matisse centers on a small group of goldfish swimming within a rounded glass vessel, rendered in oil on canvas in 1921. The painting belongs to Matisse's sustained exploration of goldfish as a recurring motif in his oeuvre, a subject he used to study color, light, and the play of translucency through water and glass. By isolating the bowl and its inhabitants against an unembellished setting, Matisse transformed an ordinary domestic object into a meditative image, inviting sustained attention to the rhythm of the fish's movement and the optical effects of the surrounding water. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
The Goldfish Bowl is an oil painting executed on canvas by Henri Matisse in 1921. The work depicts a fish and a bowl, and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyond these basic material and classification details, the available sources do not provide further specifics regarding handling, condition, or formal and stylistic qualities.
History & Provenance
Henri Matisse painted The Goldfish Bowl in 1921. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has remained in the museum's holdings since acquisition. No specific inventory or accession number, nor details regarding earlier provenance or exhibition history, are provided in the available sources.
Overview
Henri Matisse completed The Goldfish Bowl in 1921, an oil painting that exemplifies his distinctive approach to still life. This work captures a domestic scene centered around a glass bowl containing fish, rendered with the artist's characteristic emphasis on vibrant color and simplified forms. It is presently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key moment in early 20th-century art.
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.
