Mr & Mrs Charles Bourgeat (a gift from the artist)
Private Collection, Sweden
Thence by descent to the present owner

The panel is sound. UV examination reveals one tiny spot of retouching to the sky in the upper right corner. There are four artist pinholes to the upper edge and one to the center of the lower edge. There is a spot of paint loss to the center of the lower edge and there is some frame rubbing with associated paint loss along the edges. This work is in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in 1898 and dating to the period immediately preceding the development of Henri Matisse’s Fauvist style, Paysage marks a point of radical departure within the artist’s œuvre. This stylistic evolution coincided with the artist’s retreat from Paris; he spent most of the year 1898 first in London, then in Corsica and finally the South of France. In London, Matisse followed the advice of Camille Pissarro and studied the work of J. M. W. Turner at the National Gallery. Turner’s bold handling of paint made a profound impression on Matisse's pictorial language. Not long after his return from London, Matisse travelled to Corsica and to the South of France where, inspired by the countryside around him, he took up the genre of landscape painting with renewed enthusiasm. Matisse was also heavily influenced by Paul Cézanne whom he greatly admired. Seeing Cézanne’s work helped Matisse to discover the core principles of colour and compositional structure.

The vigorous brush strokes and the bold colours of the present work make it a wonderful example of the artist’s aesthetic explorations of the time. Whilst the composition and the use of light and shade in Paysage appears to be based on observation, it’s colours lend it a dream🦋like seꦏnse of beauty reminiscent of J. M. W. Turner.

Matisse gave the pꦅresent 🧔work to his friend and fellow artist and printmaker Charles Bourgeat, with whom he had studied under the tutorship of Gustave Moreau.