The artwork titled “Female toilets” is a creation by the renowned artist Henri Matisse, dated to the year 1907. It is executed in oil on canvas, reflecting Matisse’s engagement with the Expressionism movement. The canvas measures 116 by 89 centimeters and falls under the genre of nude painting (nu). Currently, the artwork is housed at the Hermitage Museum, located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork presents a vivid scene involving two female figures, which are portrayed in a state of undress. The forms and colors are rendered with a degree of abstraction that is characteristic of Matisse’s avant-garde approach. The composition is filled with expressive brushstrokes and a bold use of color to convey form, rather than reliance on precise anatomical detail. The figure in the foreground appears seated and in repose, with the other figure standing behind her, engaged in an intimate gesture of placing a flower in the seated figure’s hair. The color palette is rich, consisting of deep greens, blues, and earthy tones, with contrasting highlights such as the pale skin and the pink flower, which draw the viewer’s eye and add a dynamic quality to the piece. The backdrop is abstract, giving little context to the setting, thereby focusing the viewer’s attention on the interaction between the two figures and the expressive nature of their bodily forms.
