Matisse's Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal

Experience the moment Matisse used color to break the rules of modern art.

In 1905, Henri Matisse sent shockwaves through the art world with Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat), a portrait of his wife, Amélie, painted in bold color and loose brushstrokes that defied convention. This exhibition brings the original stakes into focus and explores the enduring impact of one of Matisse’s most iconic works.

Step into the gallery at the Salon d’Automne where it all began.

Explore a restaging of Femme au chapeau’s public debut in 1905, bringing together the greatest number of works from that historic display in over a century. See why paintings by Matisse, André Derain, Albert Marquet, Maurice de Vlaminck, and others sparked such heated debate and admiration during their time.

Trace how artists have responded to Femme au chapeau across generations.

From Matisse’s peers to artists working today, such as Hilary Harkness and Rachel Harrison, see how the painting has shaped perceptions about color, content, form, and expression. The exhibition also uncovers its impact closer to home, on Bay Area Figurative artists like Joan Brown, Richard Diebenkorn, and David Park.

Only at SFMOMA

As the exclusive venue for this landmark exhibition, SFMOMA is the only place where you can experience the full story and radical spirit of Femme au chapeau.