Henri Matisse’s artwork titled “Pascal’s Pensees” is an oil on canvas painting created in 1924, embodying the principles of Post-Impressionism. The still life measures 50 by 65 centimeters and is presently held in a private collection. The scene depicted in the artwork features a vase filled with brightly hued flowers sitting near a window. Behind the transparent curtain dotted with floral motifs, daylight cascades into the room, offering a soft illumination. Accompanying the vase on the wooden surface is a cup and saucer, presumably containing a warm beverage, which lends a sense of domestic tranquility to the composition. Close to these items, there rests an open book with the title “Pascal” clearly visible on its yellow cover, perhaps alluding to the philosophical works of Blaise Pascal, thereby adding a layer of intellectual contemplation to the serene scene. Matisse’s distinctive brushwork and use of color manifest in the vibrancy of the flowers and the subtle interplay of light and shadow, characterizing this work as a notable piece within the still life genre of the early 20th century.
