The artwork “Landscape viewed from a Window” by Henri Matisse, created in 1913, exemplifies the expressionist movement through its vibrant use of color and fluid depiction of a cityscape. Measuring 115 x 80 cm, this oil on canvas piece is currently housed in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia. Matisse’s unique approach to composition and form is evident in this piece, classified under the genre of cityscape, where he portrays an external scene from an internal vantage point.
In the artwork, the viewer is immediately drawn to the bold colors and contrasting forms. The predominant use of blues in various shades creates an atmosphere that envelops the entire scene. Centered in the foreground, we see objects suggesting domestic life: a vase with flowers and a bowl with fruit sitting on what appears to be a windowsill, marked by the sharper lines against the softer landscape, hinting at the boundary between interior space and the outside world. Through the open window, the artwork reveals a simplified and stylized cityscape bathed in sunlight, with buildings and possibly a church or mosque hinted at through the blocks of white and lighter hues, contrasting with the vivid sky. The flat areas of color and the reductive treatment of details are characteristic of Matisse’s modernist interpretation, revealing his interest in distilling forms to their essence and exploring the emotional impact of color.
