The Open Window was painted by Henri Matisse in 1905 and is an example of the Fauvist style of painting that the artist became famous for, and for which he was a leader. The painting depicts the view out the window of Matisse's apartment in Collioure, on the Southern coast of France. We see sailboats on the water, as viewed from his hotel window overlooking the harbour.

Henri Matisse brought a thoroughly modern eye to his classical art foundations. The result was a daring new style that pushed the boundaries of Modern art and helped Matisse become one of the defining artists of the 20th century. His pairing of simple, familiar subject matter—portraits, still lifes, nudes and intimate domestic scenes—with flat planes of unbridled colour, bold use of line and innovative forms ensures that Matisse’s works continue to captivate audiences to this day.