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The Three O'Clock Sitting by Henri Matisse

The Three O'Clock Sitting

Henri Matisse · 1924

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“This painting offers a serene glimpse into a private moment, showcasing Matisse's masterful use of light and interior space to create a sense of quiet intimacy. Notice the subtle reflections and the model's relaxed pose.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In "The Three O'Clock Sitting," a woman reclines on a chaise lounge, her pose relaxed, almost languid. Her gaze is directed away from us, perhaps lost in thought or simply resting. The soft, natural light entering from the left bathes her in a gentle glow, highlighting the subtle folds of the fabric and the contours of her body. Behind her, a mirror reflects a partial view of her back and the room, creating an interesting play of perspectives within the canvas. This painting captures a quiet, intimate moment, inviting us to contemplate the sitter's inner world and the serene atmosphere of the studio. It’s a compelling example of the more relaxed style Henri Matisse embraced after moving to Nice in 1917, reflecting a return to classical themes of the female form and interior scenes.

DETAILS
Artist
Henri Matisse
Date
1924
Medium
Oil on canvas
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
36 1/4 x 28 3/4 in. (92.1 x 73 cm)
Collection
Modern and Contemporary Art
Credit line
Gift of the Roderick H. Cushman Family, in memory of Paul and Cordelia Cushman, 2008
ART MOVEMENTS
FauvismImpressionismNeo-ImpressionismPost-Impressionism
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The Three O'Clock Sitting
01

The way the light illuminates the model's skin and the fabric of her dress.

02

The mirror's reflection, showing a different angle of the sitter and the room.

03

The subtle floral pattern on the chaise lounge.

04

The delicate brushstrokes that define her hair and facial features.

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THE ARTIST

Henri Matisse

1869–1954 · France

Henri Matisse, a master of color and form, moved from law to art after an appendicitis recovery, becoming a defining figure of 20th-century modern art.

Read Matisse’s full story
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by Matisse

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Olive Trees at Collioure Olive Trees at Collioure 1906 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Carmelina Carmelina 1903 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston Still Life with Geranium Still Life with Geranium 1906 · Art Institute of Chicago Bathers by a River Bathers by a River 1909 · Art Institute of Chicago Apples Apples 1916 · Art Institute of Chicago Laurette with a Cup of Coffee Laurette with a Cup of Coffee 1916 · Art Institute of Chicago Interior at Nice Interior at Nice 1919 · Art Institute of Chicago Woman before an Aquarium Woman before an Aquarium 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
EXPLORE THE MOVEMENT

More from Post-Impressionism

1 / 1
Olive Trees Olive Trees van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Gustave Boyer (b. 1840) in a Straw Hat Gustave Boyer (b. 1840) in a Straw Hat Cézanne · 1870 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Seine at Pont de Grenelle The Seine at Pont de Grenelle Gauguin · 1875 · Wallraf–Richartz Museum Albert (René) Grenier (1858–1925) Albert (René) Grenier (1858–1925) de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1887 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
KEEP EXPLORING

More works to explore

Beyond Matisse and Post-Impressionism: works from the same years, and from the other movements The Three O'Clock Sitting belongs to.

Landscape at L'Estaque Same movement · Fauvism Landscape at L'Estaque Georges Braque · 1906 · Art Institute of Chicago Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Same era · 1900s–1930s Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago Still Life: Wood Tankard and Metal Pitcher Same movement · Impressionism Still Life: Wood Tankard and Metal Pitcher Paul Gauguin · 1880 · Art Institute of Chicago Interior with painter Same era · 1900s–1930s Interior with painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1921 · Buchheim Museum of Imagination After the Bullfight Same movement · Impressionism After the Bullfight Mary Cassatt · 1873 · Art Institute of Chicago The Lineman Same era · 1900s–1930s The Lineman Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago A Turn in the Road Same movement · Impressionism A Turn in the Road Alfred Sisley · 1873 · Art Institute of Chicago American Gothic Same era · 1900s–1930s American Gothic Okada Saburosuke · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
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