“The Striped Dress” is a figurative artwork by Henri Matisse, created in 1938. This composition is reflective of the Fauvism art movement, for which Matisse is renowned.
The artwork presents a vibrantly dressed figure portrayed against a backdrop featuring a juxtaposition of intense colors and simplified forms. The dress of the figure features bold, horizontal stripes in a spectrum of red, green, and blue, creating a lively contrast against the predominantly warm hues of the background. The person depicted appears in profile, seated, with the body slightly turned, suggesting a casual, introspective posture. The background elements are abstract, with a plant and what could be interpreted as a vase discernible to the right, exhibiting Matisse’s characteristic use of color and form to convey emotion and atmosphere rather than mimicking reality. The handling of paint is loose, with visible brush strokes that add texture and movement to the scene, reflecting the Fauvist emphasis on painterly qualities and strong color over representational or realistic values.
