Unlike most artists, Henri Matisse achieved popularity and international fame during his own lifetime. Working primarily as a painter, he is considered one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. Matisse fought for artistic freedom, perhaps as a reaction to the passing Victorian Era, and moved Art into the Modern Era. Even Picasso said, "There is only one Matisse." The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art displays his painting, Woman with a Hat: Madame Matisse (1905) in prominent view. In the p a i n t i n g , Matisse boldly used areas of color to form the woman's face with a riot of greens, pinks and blues. This was a shocking use of color when it was painted in 1905 and secured his reputation as "King of The Fauves." Henri Matisse hadn't planned on becoming an artist. Born in northern France in 1869, he was the often sick, oldest of three sons. He moved to Paris initially to become a law clerk as his father wished, but at the age of 21 was sidelined with appendicitis. While bedridden he painted and when he regained his health he entered art school. As a young art student he was influenced by Impressionist, especially Manet, as well as Post Impressionist, such as Gauguin and Van Gogh. Paul Cezanne, above all had a profound effect upon Matisse and his art. Now - the new group of artists in the early 1900's, were The Fauves, of which Matisse was one of the innovators. The Fauves, shocked the public with their wild, unrestrained, and expressive use of color. The term, "Les Fauves," means "Wild Beasts" in French. It was a derogatory term used to describe the group of artists at their Paris exhibit in 1905. Matisse was the crux of most of the criticism, especially Woman with Hat, which he barely had time to complete before the showing. Leo Stein (of the infamous Stein family from Oakland) bought the painting for 500 francs (about $100). The ensuing scandal caused the prices of Matisse's paintings to soon sour. The Stein family in Paris included Gertrude, Leo, Michael and his wife Sarah, all of whom bought numerous works of Matisse and encouraged others to support him as well. Gertrude and her wealthy family formed the core of the American ex-patriots living in Paris at that time. Their opinions were highly respected in the world of Art and Literature. Having a Matisse hang at the place of honor in their salon, meant that the avantgarde such as Hemmingway and Picasso would note that his work had reached respectability. The fact that this exposure led to sales was heaven sent. Matisse was by now a husband and father of three small children, a daughter by a previous liaison and two sons by his wife Amelie. The young family had not been able to survive on the earnings from his paintings and his wife's sale of hats, and had been forced to live with his family for a time.

Les Fauves turned out to be a short-lived artistic movement. Its two leaders, Matisse and Andre Derain each had their own group of followers. They had met when both were students of Gustave Moreau in Paris. By 1906, the movement has burned itself out. The Fauves decline did little to affect Matisse, who moved on to be an accomplished painter, sculptor and graphic designer. His first one-man show was in 1908 in New York. By 1909 Matisse was a wealthy man and finally

self-supporting. The following years he was an active participant in the confluence of artistic talent in the Montparnasse section of Paris. He also began to travel extensively. Entranced by the light of the Mediterranean, he vacationed often, with other painters, in the small fishing village of Collioure in the South of France. It was there that he created his first "views through a window," that would remain a favorite motif. On trips to Algeria he was inspired by African and Islamic design - Oriental rugs and Arabesque ceramics. He brought back an African mask to Picasso. Matisse was fascinated by the rhythm these Eastern forms of art produced with flat planes and pure color. He believed that two dimensional - decorative Art extracted the utmost spirituality. "Anything that is not necessary to the painting damages it." He proclaimed that, "An avalanche of color loses all of its force. Color can achieve its full expressive power only if it is organized, and its degree of intensity corresponds to the emotion in the artists." In his paintings, human figures and decorative elements were treated in the same manner.

By 1917, his two sons had gone to war and by the end of the war, all three children were adults and living on their own. Matisse withdrew more entirely into his work. "A painter exists solely by virtue of his paintings." Now in his early 50's, he was weary and began a series of Odalisques (Harem or Slave girls) where he returned to greater realism. Where Impressionist drew their inspiration from nature, Matisse valued expression above impression, and decoration above realism. His major works were painted in his studio not outdoors. He continued his numerous travels around the world. In 1930, traveling to New York, he was inspired by it's "human energy." He also came to San Francisco and continued on to Tahiti, which he declared "pretty banal." He returned to Italy as well and continued to work on decorative commissions, tapestries, and book illustrations. He also did a series of etchings to illustrate James Joyce's book, "Odyssey." During 1935-36, most of his work was nudes, of which Pink Nude is a prime example. By this time, one of his sons had a gallery in New York where Matisse exhibited his work. In his 70's he stated, "For fifty years I have not stopped working for a single moment. My first session is from nine till twelve. Then I eat, have a short after-lunch nap and at two pick up my brush again and work until the evening. I don't suppose you will believe this."

In 1940 he separated from his wife. Amelie had hired a beautiful young Russian woman, Lydia, as an assistant and companion for herself. Before long, Lydia had segued into being an assistant, studio manager, and model for Matisse. It caused havoc and a bitter separation in his marriage. In letters to his son, he stated that he thought of Amelie every day and continued to love her. Whether Lydia was a lover has never been established, but now that he was older and in frail health, he found her indispensable. She remained with him fourteen years - until his death. In 1941 Matisse was diagnosed with duodenal cancer and underwent an operation followed by two pulmonary embolisms. He was bedridden for three months. His weakened state, made working at an easel difficult and necessitated his need to do smaller pieces. He began his paper collages of "cut-outs" - called papiers decoupes. In 1944, both his estranged wife and his daughter were arrested by the Gestapo, for Resistance activities. Both served prison terms but survived. By this time Henri had regained his strength enough to paint again. In 1945 Matisse did a joint exhibition with Picasso in London, where in 1953 he also has an exhibit of his sculptures. He continued to work continually up until his death on November 3, 1954. He died of a heart attack and is buried in Nice France. It is often said that his highest accomplishment was liberating color from its traditional and realistic function and making it a foundation for decorative art. At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Woman with a Hat is in the museum's permanent collection, as are portraits of Michael and Sarah Stein. In later years Leo Stein rejected Matisse and sold Woman with a Hat, to Michael and Sarah, who moved to Palo Alto. In the 1980's Sarah sold it to Mrs. Walter Haas, of Levi Strauss for $20,000. It now would be worth millions. It is she that donated it, and the Stein's portraits to the museum for all of us to view and appreciate - and we do.