The artwork, “The Red Madras Headdress (Mme Matisse Madras Rouge),” is an oil on canvas painting by Henri Matisse, created in 1907. It is an exemplar of the Expressionism art movement and measures 99.4 x 80.5 cm. The portrait genre piece is currently held in the Barnes Foundation, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
The artwork portrays a female figure adorned with a vividly patterned headdress in shades of red and yellow, which contrasts with the more subdued tones of her garment and background. The figure’s significant facial features and intense gaze reflect the Expressionist interest in evoking emotional experience over realistic depiction. The use of bold, flat areas of color and the simplification of form are indicative of Matisse’s style during this period. Her clothing features exotic patterns that add a decorative element to the composition, and the large blocks of color used for the background create a strong contrast that focuses attention on the subject. The painting demonstrates Matisse’s innovative use of color and form, which contributed significantly to the development of modern art.
