This is the only painting in which Matisse depicted the exterior of his Issy studio. The Blue Window was made in Henri and Amélie Matisse’s second-floor bedroom in their house on the adjoining lot. The view through the window shows the studio nestled in the surrounding trees (painted blue, like the dressing table, wall, and sky). The studio’s distinctive pitched roof and chimney are also blue, while the yellow of the building’s exterior links it to the objects on the table. In one flat plane, Matisse connects inside and outside, home and work, life and art.
Gallery label from Matisse: The Red Studio, May 1–September 10, 2022
