The artwork “Arabian Coffee House” was created by Henri Matisse in 1913 and is a fine example of the Expressionism and Orientalism art movements. This genre painting measures 176 x 210 cm and is housed within the esteemed collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork portrays a scene that seems to take place within a coffee house, capturing the ambiance and social setting associated with Middle Eastern culture. Matisse uses a limited palette predominantly consisting of ochre and blue, with a background that suggests a wall decorated with hanging lamps. The figures are depicted in a simplified and abstracted form, characterized by their white headgear and orange attire. The use of light and shadow within the painting is minimal, which gives way to flat areas of color, imbuing the composition with a certain stillness and order. Matisse’s work here is a clear deviation from realistic representation, opting for a style that focuses on the interaction of color and form to convey the essence of the scene.
