“Seated Woman, Back Turned to the Open Window,” painted by Henri Matisse in 1922, is an expressionist artwork rendered in oil on canvas, measuring 73.5 x 92.5 cm. This portrait exemplifies the characteristic style of the movement, capturing emotion and subjective experience through intense color and dynamic composition.
As the title suggests, the artwork depicts a woman seated indoors with her back to an open window that frames a vibrant seascape. The woman, clad in a patterned dress, rests in a contemplative pose, her face showing a pensive expression. Her gaze, directed towards the viewer, is introspective, drawing attention to her presence against the backdrop of the outdoors. Matisse’s use of vivid colors and broad, loose brushstrokes imbues the artwork with a sense of immediacy and emotional depth. The contrast between the interior space and the luminous seascape, punctuated by swaying palm trees and the movement of sailboats on the water, highlights the artist’s skill in bridging the boundary between the domestic and the natural world. This tableau engages the viewer in a silent dialogue with the subject, capturing a moment of private reverie.
