The Snail by Henri Matisse Art Print

The Snail by Henri Matisse Art PrintRooms go quieter when deep red is this sure of itself. The Snail is Matisse's late cut paper masterpiece bright blocks of green, purple, orange and blue spiralling inside a confident red border, with his name set in plain type below. Put this on a wall and the room finds a centre. Other colours in the space stop competing and start supporting it. Quiet sofas, plain rugs and pale walls suddenly look intentional instead of bare. It hangs best as a

Pair it with painted timber

and the typography gives the eye something to land on after the foliage

The wall feels lighter

it lifts the print without dulling the pinks

Don't try to make it formal

or as the one bit of art in a small cloakroom

and tired-looking shelves

The windmill sits dead centre

a chunky knit throw

Don't crowd it with hard graphic prints or anything cold and grey

It reads as friendly and warm rather than loud

and one or two other simple animal prints in the same warm palette