Henri Matisse's Moroccan Paintings: A Fresh Perspective

Henri Matisse visited Morocco twice, in 1912 and 1913, staying at the Hotel Villa de France in Tangier. During his first visit, heavy rain forced him to paint indoors, including a vase of irises, and he complained in a letter to Gertrude Stein. Later, he explored the old city and produced numerous sketches and paintings. Unlike French Orientalists who depicted fantasist scenes, Matisse focused on objective portrayals of Moroccan life, capturing people in traditional attire (jellabah, gandouras, slippers), architecture, and daily routines. His works from this period, such as 'Window at Tangier' (1912, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts), 'La Petite Mulâtresse' (1912, Musée de Grenoble), 'Zorah on the Terrace' (1912, Pushkin State Museum), and 'Arab Coffeehouse' (1912-1913, State Hermitage Museum), emphasize intimacy and simplicity. Zorah was his favorite model, appearing in multiple paintings. Matisse's Moroccan works are characterized by intense color palettes and a 'Moroccan touch,' influencing even his later canvases with portraits of French women in Moroccan dress. His approach offered a fresh insight into North Africa, away from Orientalist stereotypes.