Try looking out. Henri Matisse used to look out windows ... But then you look more closely at how it was made — what precise shapes Matisse cut the colored paper into and exactly how they ...

Positive shapes are the shapes of actual objects. Negative shapes are the areas between these objects. The way positive and negative shapes act together creates the atmosphere of a composition.

The South Korean designer uses Matisse-inspired techniques in her vibrant brand identities, posters, and publications.

“I began to notice trends appearing that reflected Matisse’s later cut-out works and loved the playfulness ... and I like the shapes and bodies in his pieces,” she says.

Icarus Plate, Henri Matisse, 1947, paper cut out and gouache Henri Matisse played with ideas of positive and negative shapes with his cut-out works. With Icarus, is the black figure a positive ...