Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a French artist known for his paintings and paper cut-out collages. As a young man he studied law but became interested in art after a long hospital stay. He studied painting at art school and chose it as his profession. Throughout his life he painted hundreds of works in a variety of styles, from realistic depictions to more abstract designs focused on shapes and colors. He was influenced by African art patterns. In old age he created collages by cutting shapes from paper to make colorful compositions. Matisse explored art in different styles and cultures throughout his long, prolific career as a painter.