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The Windshield, On the Road to Villacoublay

1917
(French, 1869–1954)
France, 20th century
oil on canvas
Framed: 58 x 75 x 7 cm (22 13/16 x 29 1/2 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 38.2 x 55.2 cm (15 1/16 x 21 3/4 in.)
Bequest of Lucia McCurdy McBride in memory of John Harris McBride II 1972.225
© Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Location: not on view
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.

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Description

Henri Matisse painted this unusual view of a road and the surrounding rural landscape in summer of 1917 while being chauffeured by his son Pierre toward an airport on the outskirts of Paris. Seized by the novel idea of depicting the road from inside the car, Matisse asked his son to pull over so he could begin painting. Although forced to keep the windows shut, and despite passing traffic rocking the old Renault back and forth, Matisse managed to create a novel view of life in the modern automobile age.
The Windshield, On the Road to Villacoublay

The Windshield, On the Road to Villacoublay

1917

Henri Matisse

(French, 1869–1954)
France, 20th century

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