The Gourds 1916 — Fine Art

The Gourds 1916 shows rounded vegetables set against a plain field. A few clear outlines hold the forms together, and the paint stays flat in broad areas. Henri Matisse treated these everyday objects with the same attention he gave larger subjects.

The white frame finishes the edge of this fine art print and keeps the image boundary clean. A dark wood frame would set the pale ground back and push the shapes forward. The clear edge helps the picture read well from across a room.

Hang it above a low bookcase where the top of the frame meets your eye line. From the door the broad shapes read first, and the small painted edges appear when you step closer. Morning light from a side window lays a soft tone across the ground and leaves the vegetables clear.