The Roofs of Collioure (1905)

A trip to the South of France at the age of 36 saw Matisse find his inspiration. He captured the French town of Collioure in a bold and groundbreaking exploration of colour that earned him a reputation as a 'fauve', or wild beast.

The term was coined by a critic who saw Matisse's work and was astonished by his wild and exaggerated use of colour. The Roofs of Collioure uses colour to convey an emotional response to the landscape rather than a faithful representation of the scene itself.