The artwork “Blue Interior with Two Girls” was created by Henri Matisse in 1947. It exemplifies the Expressionist art movement and falls into the genre of genre painting, focusing on interior scenes. As characteristic of Expressionism, this artwork conveys the emotional experience rather than reality, featuring intense color and dynamic brushwork.
In the artwork, the scene unfolds in an interior setting dominated by shades of blue, from pale to very deep tones, that establish a cool and somewhat introspective mood. The two girls mentioned in the title are present, although their forms are abstracted and stylized; their features are simple, with an emphasis on contour rather than realistic details. One girl is depicted with a yellow garment, adding a bright contrast against the blue background, while the other is absorbed in reading a book, hinted at by a series of lines and color blocks that evoke the pages and cover.
The room is also adorned with a lively array of objects and elements, such as an open window that allows the viewer to glimpse the outdoors and draws attention to the detailed wrought-iron work on the balcony. Strong outlines and unexpected color juxtapositions give vitality to still-life components like the plants and pots on the table, a technique that Matisse is renowned for. The flat planes of color and the bold outlines create depth and dimension in a way that is not realistically accurate but instead relies on color and form to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere.
Overall, Matisse’s “Blue Interior with Two Girls” is a visually engaging piece that conveys feeling and interiority through the expressive potential of color and simplified form, defying conventional representation in favor of an emotional narrative.
