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Henri Matisse

Still Life with Lemon (Nature morte au citron)

1917
Oil on wood panel
27 × 35 cm (10.6 × 13.8 in)

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Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia · verified July 2026

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FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

In Still Life with Lemon, the transparency of the glass, the sparkle of the spoon,and the acidity of the lemon appeal to the senses of sight, touch, and taste. In focusing on the world of the senses, Matisse carries on a long tradition in painting devoted to this theme. Here he seems to be alluding to 17th-century Dutch and Flemish still lifes, which are known for capturing the sheen and texture of objects.

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