Henri Matisse, Portrait of André Derain

1905

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matisse-portrait-andre-derain

Overview

Medium: Oil
Support: Canvas
Size: 39.4 x 28.9 cm

Tate Gallery, London
Inventory number: N06241

 

The portrait of André Derain is a mature work by Henri Matisse and is a representative example of his fauvist period. The intricate colour contrasts between the figure and the background show Matisse’s mastery of colour.

The pigment analysis shows that the artist employed pigments typical of the beginning of the 20th century such as cobalt blue, cadmium orangechrome yellow, viridian, and vermilion.

Pigments

Pigment Analysis of This Painting

This pigment analysis is based on the reference (1).

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments

 

 

1 Hairline: unmixed viridian green.
2 Blue background: cobalt blue mixed with white.

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments-1-2

 

3 Red hat: Red (scarlet) lake mixed with white.
4 Skin colour: cadmium orange and vermilion.

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments-3-4

 

5 Green background: viridian mixed with white.

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments_5

 

6 Yellow shirt: chrome yellow mixed with white.

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments-6

 

7 Signature: cobalt violet.

Matisse-Portrait-of-Andre-Derain-pigments-7

 

References

(1) Waldemar Januszczak (Ed), Techniques of the World’s Great Painters, Chartwell, New Jersey, 1980, pp.132-35.

Resources

Videos

Video: 'Henri Matisse' by Star Arts

Video: 'Henri Matisse: A Master of the Modern Era' by MIKOS

Video: 'Henri Matisse: A collection of 812 works (HD)' by LearnFromMasters

Video: 'Henri Matisse - Le Fauve - The wild beast' by Amine BELHAJ

Publications and Websites

Publications

(1) Waldemar Januszczak (Ed), Techniques of the World’s Great Painters, Chartwell, New Jersey, 1980, pp.132-35.