MATISSE PICASSO
1869-1954 1881-1973
These two names are probably top of the list when we think of modern art, Matisse and Picasso changed the idea of painting and caused the biggest upheaval since the Renaissance. They made the art world rethink the whole idea of what art is and what it should look like.
Matisse first came to prominence with his Fauve style, creating pictures full of sensuous bright colours. He quickly established himself as one of the leading painters of the day and began to collect patrons who were prepared to commission many works and with in a short space of time his fame spread around the world. After WW1 his painting took on a slightly more realistic tone which combined with his use of line and colour produced some outstanding work. He explored the use of colour and pattern with influences from North Africa and Arabia as well as the light and colour of the south of France where he based himself from 1919 until his death in 1954. His subject matter was essentially interiors, still life and the female form, his ongoing experimentation of the use of line and colour created paintings of great beauty which were often saturated with deep sensuous colour. His work held a large influence over a great many painters (Picasso once said that Matisse was the only painter he could look in the eye as an equal) and has subsequently maintained his position as one of the greatest painters of the modern age if not of all time!
If we consider Matisse to be the great colourist then we should consider Picassos use of form. From the earliest days of his cubist experiments to the day he died he continuously pursued new ways of representing three dimensional objects on a two dimensional surface. Picassos painting style varied greatly throughout his career, he once said that his style was decided by his subject. He continually pushed the boundaries of painting with new ways of seeing and representing what he saw, the 20th century became filled with style and movements that Picasso created, flirted with, influenced or inspired. His sheer diversity influenced every painter that came after him, even if it is not consciously acknowledged. Throughout his long career his work rate never dropped, he tirelessly and ceaselessly painted all the time he had, at one point it is thought that he was producing three canvas’s a day, today we estimate that there are over 20,000 works of art by Picasso.
As we look back at the art created in the 20th century these two giants are often considered equals, how ever human nature often requires us to judge who was the greatest, the most endearing, the most influential, perhaps after long analysis Picasso would be just one tiny step ahead, to many modern historians he is the greatest painter of them all.
