A FORMAL ANALYSIS - Assignment Example

paper will offer a formal analysis of this painting, exploring its formal properties, subject matter, historical context and describing any symbolism exhibited in the work. In 1907, Henri Matisse did a painting on canvas using oil that he named “Blue Nude.” Notably, he relied on his use of bright colors in this painting and a high level of primitivism. Henri Matisse had earned recognition as one of the 20th century artists who produced colorful artworks. This preference is exhibited in this painting.

His primitivism has been described through his use of strokes in the painting. Moreover, the strokes were sketchy like as he did his painting (Bohm-Duchen 55). The sketch like strokes is more evident in the shading of the underside of the woman’s breasts as well as the inner side of both her face and thighs. In these areas, Matisse relied on sketchy strokes to place emphasis on the undersides. Moreover, Matisse relied on color and such sketchy lines in his evident efforts to exhibit shadows and other physical details on the woman’s body.

Notably, this painting has been considered as an abstract and not real because the artistic elements used to highlight shadows and other physical details of the woman prove to be unrealistic. Moreover, Matisse missed out in giving clear details of the feet and the toes as well as the fingers. Notably, the painting appears to be hard and rough because of the style used. The faint details that define the painting as well as the roughness implied serve to emphasize the abstract nature of the painting.

Moreover, Matisse does not present specific details of the background, although the audience can identify some plants and flowers. Moreover, Matisse’s primitivism of style is also exhibited by the evident exaggerations as he tried to outline the woman’s body (DSouza 70). For example, he makes her look like she has muscle, a body that is uncommon among women. The pores of the woman are also revealed by his sketchy lines and