Imagine you're a wealthy man in late 19th century Europe. You own a nice neo gothic home in the fancy part of the city. Like other wealthy men, you too dabble

Imagine you're a wealthy man in late 19th century Europe. You own a nice neo gothic home in the fancy part of the city. Like other wealthy men, you too dabble in collecting some art. You own a few romantic pieces with exceptional craftsmanship. You proudly display them in your living room amid all your fancy, ornate furniture. But something is amiss. All your artwork starts looking the same. And why wouldn't it - all these artists have honed their craft at similar art schools. They look good but they've started looking a little repetitive. Like something out of a factory. You have to see artists like Matisse in this context. Try placing yourself in the shoes of someone from their period. Realistic art was dead because there can't truly be any further innovation in it (and the camera would make it obsolete anyway). The themes, the styles, even the figures had been all tried and put on canvas over the last several centuries. A Matisse in this context is very new, very exciting, and very full of life. It's bright blue in dimly lit 19th century homes. It's a yellow dancing figure in a room that has only see scenes from the Bible and Greek myths painted. This is the reason why its art. "Looking pretty" is just craftsmanship. If it makes you feel something - even acute hatred - its art.