Henri Matisse. (French, 1869-1954). The Red Studio. 1911. Oil on canvas, 71 1/4" x 7' 2 1/4" (181 x 219.1 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund. © Succession H. Matisse/ARS, N.Y.

Henri Matisse—The name of the artist.

• Does knowing the artist's name change how you look at the work? Why or why not?

French—Nationality.

1869-1954—Dates of the artist's birth and death.

• What do you know about the time in which Matisse lived?

The Red Studio—The title of the artwork.

• Do you learn anything new about the artwork from the title?
  
• Does knowing the title add to or change your ideas about the artwork?

1911—The year the artwork was created.

• What was going on in France at this time?
  
• In the rest of Europe?
  
• In the United States?
  
• In other parts of the world?

Oil on Canvas—The medium, the material with which the artwork was made.

• What are some other materials (media) artists use?

71 1/4" x 7' 2 1/4" (181 x 219.1 cm)—The size of the artwork.
This is in both standard and metric units of measure.

• Think about the dimensions of this work. How big is it?
  
• Is it bigger than a refrigerator?
  
• Is it smaller than a magazine?
  
• Is it bigger than a stop sign?
• Measure a section of a floor or wall the same size as The Red Studio.
• Can you imagine The Red Studio being this size?
  
• Does knowing the scale (size) change your ideas about the work?

Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund—Provenance
Provenance tells us how a museum received or purchased a work of art.