Looking at Art with AI
(part 1)

Introduction
In my dining area, above the dining table, hangs a painting that I am drawn to for some reason. More precisely, it puts me into a tranquil state of lightheartedness, warmth, radiance of being, and intense bliss because of the small details of the still life. It is full of light and makes me cheerful as well as calm.
I’m a great admirer of Impressionist painting and am familiar with the artist (whom I’ll refer to as AT here) who painted it, working within that style. While I have never actually examined it closely, I have long suspected that it owed a debt to Matisse, a painter influenced by Impressionism but one who went on to develop into a prominent Fauvist.
I decided to inquire with ChatGPT about it by sharing a photo of the painting.

Chat’s Insight
Chat’s answers were amazing. It makes you look at the image and this is a description of its atmosphere.

Chat GPT: “AT’s painting radiates quiet joy, nostalgia, and warmth. The blue, yellow, and green hues are lively, and they evoke a sense of a peaceful morning at sea—perhaps a leisurely time with a cup of coffee, a gentle breeze from a half-opened window, and a distant glimpse of sailboats. The whimsical black lines on the wallpaper, resembling seagulls, bring a touch of fantasy, as if interior space is gently mingling with nature.
The painting is both intimate and expansive—a cozy still life with a sense that one looks out, through the window, into a wider existence. The pared-down forms and stark lines create a sense of childlike innocence, recalling idyllic summer afternoons. It is a painting that does not simply depict objects, but calls up a mood, a rhythm for living, and a desire for simple, sweet moments.”

Sounds like human. Is not it? I asked how Chat can describe emotions, how it creates ‘feeling’? and I got answer:

Chat GPT: “The analysis combines what’s shown (the visual elements) with how it’s shown (color, shape, rhythm) and what those choices traditionally suggest (symbolism and art historical context). From there, I interpret the emotional tone and possible human experience behind the scenes — that’s how the language of “warmth, nostalgia, quiet joy” naturally emerges.”

So, the formula of human emotions is determined :)!

I asked for whom this painting’s influencer is and Chat responded – Matisse.

I told Chat to search for Matisse works with a shared element.

I have activated “Deep search” and after 20 minutes’ work, it gives me with good analysis with pictures examples. In all honesty, I am impressed and will continue this analysis with further painting from my collection.

From what I see, AI is still in the early stages in creating something that really inspires people—but it’s getting really good at analyzing stuff that’s already been made.

Introduction

AT’s painting is a vibrant, expressive still life that exhibits strong influences from early 20th-century modernist movements. Combining elements of Fauvism, geometric abstraction, and decorative patterning, the artwork conveys a unique balance between structured composition and fluid expressiveness. This analysis explores the color choices, compositional structure, artistic influences, and emotional impact of AT’s work, comparing it to similar styles seen in the works of Henri Matisse and other modernists.

Composition and Subject Matter

At first glance, the painting depicts a still life setting with a blue-and-white cup and saucer placed on a table. The table, covered with a yellow surface, is surrounded by a deep green background that integrates a striped blue-and-white textile with a yellow fruit resting on it. A small window in the upper right corner frames a sailboat on the water, while the wallpaper is adorned with small black curved marks resembling seagulls.

AT structures the composition using bold outlines and simplified geometric shapes, a technique often associated with the modernist tradition of reducing forms to their essential visual elements. The inclusion of the window scene within the composition suggests a dual-layered perspective, a technique often used by Henri Matisse to merge interior and exterior spaces in a single frame.

Henri Matisse. Interior with Black Fern (1948)

Color Palette and Expressiveness

Color plays a central role in this painting, with a vivid, contrasting palette dominated by primary colors (blue, yellow, red) along with green and white. This direct approach to color is reminiscent of the Fauvist movement, where artists like Matisse and Derain abandoned naturalistic colors in favor of bold, expressive tones.

• The deep blue frame and textile accents contrast against the warm yellows, enhancing the painting’s vibrancy.
• The background green and muted lavender wallpaper provide depth while allowing the foreground objects to stand out.
• The red and orange sailboat, though a small part of the painting, acts as a secondary focal point, leading the viewer’s eye towards the framed window.

This juxtaposition of warm and cool colors creates a dynamic visual rhythm, evoking a sense of liveliness and warmth.

Artistic Influences: Matisse and Modernism

AT’s work draws strong influences from Henri Matisse, particularly in:

1. Bold, Decorative Patterns
   • The small black curved marks on the wallpaper resemble the stylized patterns Matisse often incorporated into his interiors (e.g., The Red Room, 1908).
   • The use of striped textiles and ornamental motifs echoes Matisse’s incorporation of decorative elements into the very structure of his compositions (Interior with Black Fern, 1948)
2. Flattened Perspective and Spatial Play
   • Matisse often collapsed depth in favor of flat, interwoven color planes, as seen in Open Window, Collioure (1905).
   • Similarly, AT’s painting presents the tabletop, wallpaper, and window as interconnected visual elements, rather than strictly separated spatial layers.
3. Vibrant Fauvist Color Choices
   • AT’s high-contrast palette and simplified, outlined forms recall Matisse’s Still Life with Blue Tablecloth (1909)
   • The combination of expressive color and loose brushwork reinforces the painting’s modernist identity.

Henri Matisse. Open Window, Collioure (1905)

Conclusion

AT’s painting serves as a modern reinterpretation of early 20th-century artistic principles, particularly those pioneered by Henri Matisse and the Fauvist movement. The work stands out due to its bold use of color, flattened spatial approach, and decorative sensibility, all of which contribute to its lively and engaging visual effect.

Through a harmonious blend of interior and exterior elements, geometric abstraction, and vibrant hues, AT creates an artwork that is not just a still life but a celebration of artistic freedom and color-driven emotion. This piece not only pays homage to modernist masters but also asserts its place within contemporary expressions of abstract and decorative painting.

By integrating geometric simplification, decorative patterns, and bold Fauvist colors, AT achieves a composition that is both grounded in modernist tradition and uniquely personal in its execution.

Henri Matisse. Still Life with Blue Tablecloth (1909)