Early Life and Artistic Beginnings Born: December 31, 1869, Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France Died: November 3, 1954, Nice, France Matisse's early life was marked by a period of illness in his youth which led him to pursue art as a hobby. He initially studied law but abandoned it to dedicate himself to painting. Early influences included Gustave Moreau and Édouard Manet, whose works he encountered during trips to Paris. His initial artistic style leaned towards realism before evolving into more experimental approaches. The Fauvist Period and Artistic Development Matisse became a l…