Henri Matisse's journey into the art world in the 1890s marked the beginning of a revolutionary career that would significantly impact the course of modern art. Born into a family with little interest in art, Matisse initially pursued a career in law before a bout of appendicitis in 1890 led him to discover painting as a form of convalescence. This experience ignited his passion for art, leading him to abandon his legal career and move to Paris in 1891 to study art at the Académie Julian under William-Adolphe Bouguereau and at the École des Beaux-Arts under Gustave Moreau. During this formative period, Matisse's style was traditional, focusing on still lifes and landscapes. He was influenced by the works of older masters like Chardin, Poussin, and Watteau, as well as contemporary artists such as Édouard Manet. Matisse also drew inspiration from Japanese art, which is evident in his early works. His admiration for Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin led him to make copies of Chardin's paintings at the Louvre, which helped develop his skill and artistic sensibility. In 1896, a significant turning point in Matisse's career occurred when he met Australian painter John Russell, who introduced him to Impressionism and the work of Vincent van Gogh. Russell's influence prompted Matisse to abandon his earth-colored palette for bright colors, marking a radical change in his artistic style. This period of exploration and experimentation laid the groundwork for his future as a leader of the Fauvism movement, renowned for its wild use of color and expressive brushwork. Despite his later fame and recognition as a pivotal figure in modern art, Matisse's early years were marked by a diligent and exploratory approach to his craft, deeply influenced by a mix of classical and modern artistic traditions​ (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)​​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​.