Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, northern France. He is one of the leading masters of the 20th century. Influenced by Impressionists such as Cézanne and Van Gogh, he pursued a style of painting characterized by free use of color. In 1941, after suffering from cancer and undergoing a long battle with the illness, he was unable to hold a pencil. He then explored a new style using paper and scissors, later known as cut-out artwork.

He studied law in Paris during 1887-88. After graduation, he worked as a secretary at a law firm. In 1892, he convinced his father to relent and entered the Julian Academy, and in 1898, he enrolled at the Paris School of Fine Arts, studying in Gustave Moreau’s class. There, he met Georges Rouault and Albert Marquet. In 1898, he married Amélie Parayre. The following years were marked by severe financial hardship both in his work and personal life. To supplement his family’s meager income, Matisse worked not only as a painter but also as a decorator.

In 1911, he traveled to Morocco, where he found inspiration in landscapes and people. This marked the beginning of a series of works called "Odalisque." In 1920, he designed stage sets and costumes for Stravinsky’s ballet "The Nightingale’s Song." In 1943, he moved to Vence. Besides painting, he continued to produce sculptures. In early 1948, he completed his first major paper cut-out works (gouache, decoupage), ending his career in painting. From 1947 to 1952, he was commissioned to decorate the Rosary Chapel in Vence. In 1951, he created paper cut-outs. In 1952, the Matisse Museum opened in Le Cateau-Cambrésis. He died in Vence in 1954 at the age of 84.