B. The colors Matisse chose are not realistic; he chose them for their expressive qualities.
Fauvism originated in France to mature the opening new decorative vogue of the 20th century. In contradiction to the dark, obscurely troubling nature of much fin-de-siècle, or turn-of-the-century, Symbolist painting, the Fauves presented brilliant pleasant sketches and figure arts, described by pure rich color and bold distinguishing brushwork. The best understood Fauve painters incorporate Henri Matisse who discovered its unique technique. His pioneering works exhibit the importance of Post-Impressionist painters, notably Neo-Impressionists like Paul Signac, whose concern in color’s visible outcomes had led to a divisionist style of comparing pure hues on canvas.
