Crimson canopied
trees embrace the Aqueduct,
like water's lover.
The Aqueduct at Arcueil (by Henri Matisse)
Matisse is known to have painted outdoors in Arcueil, a suburb to the south of Paris between 1898 and 1900. The suburb is dominated by an immense aqueduct and this painting of this immense structure is an example of his early work.
While he used mostly a natural palette, Matisse began to explore techniques of adding dramatic flare to his work using colour in this painting with bold red brushstrokes highlighting the trees over the left wall.
Matisse embraced this deliberate anti-naturalistic colour style more often in later works, earning him the nickname (in artistic circles) of 'les Fauves' (the wild beast).
I personally like the impressionistic feel of this painting, it is almost psychedelic expressing, maybe, the mind-eye of the painter in how he perceived the world. Often too much focus is given in classical art to the fundamentals of perspective, framing and realism.
I would argue that often a more successful piece of art is one that allows you a glimpse into the mind of another human being, how they perceive colour and the flow of life, while still retaining some semblance of the scene being painted lol.
I try to do this in my poetry all the time, creating a scene with words, but uniquely framed within the (often strange) way I perceive the world. Too much experimenting with psychedelics as a young adult I guess 😂
But whatever the reason, that unique way that each human looks at things/scenes/issues is what is at the heart of great art and literature. It is that difference that engages the eye and brain, both with art and writing. No one wants to read a book that tells a story similar to their life exactly as they perceive the world, and it is the same with art.
A Brief History of the Aqueduc d'Arcueil and Henri Matisse
As Google Maps shows the Aqueduc d'Arcueil still stands, built between 1867 - 1874 and is still in use, possibly for irrigation purposes.
It is easy to see why Matisse chose this area to paint, even when looking at the modern-day picture presented below. The suburb has an interesting charm, with a mix of more modern housing and the relatively older Aqueduct sitting above as a backdrop.
It's interesting to note that prior to the current Aqueduct that still remains at Arcueil an ancient Roman Aqueduct once ran through the exact same area. I imagine that there are many spots in this area of Arcueil that would yield esthetically pleasing frameworks within which to paint or take photographs.
Screenshot from Google Maps used for reference, fair use.
As mentioned earlier, Henri Matisse only painted in the suburb of Arcueil for two years before moving on to paint in many different places as his confidence in his style (Fauvism) grew, such as Brittany, where he met the veteran Impressionist Camille Pissarro, and later a small French fishing port on the Mediterranean in the summer of 1905 when his trademark use of colour really blossomed.
Both images are Creative commons Licence Source one & Source two - Left is a picture of Matisse, Right his Artwork Dagmar Anders
It is worthy of note that Matisse was also a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but he is primarily known for his paintings, their vibrancy and experimental genius use of colour.
The Walker Art Gallery
I recently visited the Walker Art Gallery with my girlfriend. During the three hours we spent there I took many pictures and wrote Haiku poems inspired by the art that had grabbed my attention.
Art galleries have a strange effect on me. I always find myself drawn into a meditative place by the quiet of the gallery and the impact of the art.
I am always this way in any gallery... names don't impress me. I could walk past a Picasso (although I do like Picasso) to sit and write in response to an unknown artist's work if it caught my eye and senses. I find it hard to explain, but it is like a force that draws me to certain paintings.
Although I was drawn to some of the world-famous works that the gallery holds, such as the Pre Raphelite, 'Echo and Narcissus' by John William Waterhouse, my eye was also drawn to the painting 'The Aqueduct at Arcueil' (by Henri Matisse), pictured above.
If you are visiting Liverpool I fully recommend you visit the Walker Art Gallery (the link takes you to a Google Maps location of the gallery).
Whether you're looking for world-famous artists' original oil on canvas paintings - or fancy checking out some more modern art (as they host the Liverpool John Moores Art Prize Collection) - there is something for every art lover.
This is the first collection I have published on hive of Ekphrastic Poems based solely on one location, The Walker Art Gallery.
I shall be publishing this collection with three to five posts per week for the next 2-3 weeks. I hope you enjoy this in-depth exploration of one of the UK's finest art galleries. I include all the previous posts in this series below for reference.
The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (The Ruins of Holyrood Chapel) - Art Appreciation and Haiku #1
The Walker Art Gallery - Liverpool From Egremont (by John Williams) - Art Appreciation and Haiku #3
Thanks for reading 🙂🌿
To read more about the aesthetics of true haiku, and the difference between haiku and senryu, please check out my post: Haiku Vs Senryu - The Aesthetics of Form
All images in this post are my own property, taken at The Walker Art Gallery, 2023. The design work for the title image and page breaks was made using canva.com
Camera used - Samsung S7 Smartphone
If you have enjoyed this Haiku, please check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content.
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