The Open Window
Henri Matisse · 1905
Why it's great
An open window frames a view of boats in a harbor, with window boxes of flowers and bursts of pure color. Matisse painted this in the summer of 1905 at Collioure on France's southern coast. It's a famous Fauvist painting. It invites us to look out at a bright new view.
Where to see it
📍 National Gallery of ArtWashington, D.C., United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Henri Matisse was born in northern France and began painting after an illness at age 20. He lived in Paris and then in Nice in the south, where he painted in bold, free colors. He was the leader of Fauvism, whose name means 'wild beasts', and later made colorful paper cut-outs. He died in Nice in 1954.
