Was Matisse an Impressionist?

No, Matisse was not an Impressionist. Art historians typically classify his work as part of Post-Impressionism, a movement that turned away from the naturalism of Impressionism and focused even more on conveying emotions through painting. Along with fellow painter André Derain, Matisse was also the leading proponent of Fauvism, a movement whose name is derived from the French word for "wild beast." Marked by vibrant hues, Fauvist paintings like Matisse's famous 1906 composition Le Bonheur de vivre use wild, active brushstrokes and a palette unconstrained by nature, resulting in visuals like women with purple skin and trees with orange leaves. Often, these compositions unite pure color with the white of the exposed canvas to create a sense of transparency and light. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Henri Matisse art.