The heart (1947)

Dated 1947, "The heart" is an artwork by Henri Matisse. Background on Abstract: Movements of later decades, including Abstract Expressionism and geometric abstraction, carried non-representational ideas into new scales and materials. Abstract art moves away from depicting recognisable objects and relies on colour, line, shape, and surface instead. Historical background, 1947: Photography, film, and print culture became part of the language of art, and artists across the world developed their own responses to modernism. The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. The catalogue places it in Abstract. The format is landscape.

On onlly.art "The heart" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

French, 1869–1954

If you like the visual language of Henri Matisse, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.