Matisse's Bonheur De Vivre

Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life) is a twentieth century painting by Henri Matisse and is widely considered as one of the trademark paintings of early modernism. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is also a twentieth century painting by Pablo Picasso and it has been said that he produced this controversial painting with intentions of usurping Matisse as the pioneer of the early modernism movement. Both paintings were simultaneously inspired by and, also broke free from Paul Cézanne’s famous painting, The Large Bathers.
Analysis of Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life) and Cézanne’s, The Large Bathers
One way, in which Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life) was inspired by Cézanne’s famous painting, The Large Bathers can be observed by examining the content of
Cézanne’s painting, on the other hand, does not contain any such elements. Another way, in which Picasso’s painting broke free from Cézanne’s painting, was the way in which both artists illustrated the manner of the women in each of their respective paintings. The women in Cézanne’s painting seem to be exuding an amiable and cordial manner, whereas the women in Picasso’s painting are, “slightly menacing and rendered with angular and disjointed body shapes” (“Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”, 2017).
Conclusion
It is interesting how previous works of art have such a unique influence on works of art that are produced in the future. Both, Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life) and
Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon contain similarities and differences to Cézanne’s The
Large Bathers. It would seem that Matisse was inspired by Cézanne, which led to his painting, while Picasso painted his as a reaction to Matisse’s painting; ultimately, however, both
Matisse’s and Picasso’s paintings were simultaneously inspired by and, also broke free from
Cézanne’s painting. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that all artists borrow traits from previous works of art carry, while also adding their own flavors to their own