Woman with the Hat

work by Matisse

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July 15, 2026

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Woman with the Hat is a painting by Henri Matisse, a pivotal work in the Fauvist movement. Created in 1905, it features bold, aggressive use of pure, brilliant colors applied directly from the tube, creating an energetic and expressive depiction of the subject. The painting's crude application of paint and vibrant hues, such as blues, greens, and reds, shocked viewers at the time. Matisse, considered the leader of the Fauves, used color to define a new picture space, moving away from traditional renderings. This style, dubbed Fauvism by critic Louis Vauxcelles, emphasized expressive reactions to subjects through intense color.12

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Fauvism
He exhibited his famous Woman with the Hat (1905) at the 1905 exhibition. In this painting, brisk strokes of colour—blues, greens, and reds—form an energetic, expressive view of the woman. The crude paint application, which left areas of raw canvas exposed, was appalling to viewers at the time.
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He exhibited his famous Woman with the Hat (1905) at the 1905 exhibition. In this painting, brisk strokes of colour—blues, greens, and reds—form an energetic, expressive view of the woman. The crude paint application, which left areas of raw canvas exposed, was appalling to viewers at the time.
Read More