Matisse, Henri (1869-1954)
Baigneuses avec une tortue (Bathers with a Turtle)
1907–1908
Oil on canvas, 181.6 x 221 cm
Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis
In 1941, Henri Matisse simply described this painting as “three women by the sea, playing with a turtle.” The small turtle, or tortoise, at bottom left serves as the focal point of the picture. Each figure engages with the animal in different ways, whether offering a leaf, gnawing fingers in a pose suggestive of curiosity and anxiety, or sadly staring at its tiny form. Despite Matisse’s reference to play, the overall atmosphere seems one of melancholy or even alienation. The three bathers are outlined against three abstract bands of green, ultramarine, and teal, which reference shore, sea, and sky. (SLAM)