The leader of the Fauve (meaning Wild Beasts) group, recognized as one of the great formative figures in 20th-century art, a master of the use of color and form to convey emotional expression. His painting style focused on pure colors used in an aggressive and direct manner. In his last years, he started creating the papercuttings that he is perhaps best known for. Matisse understood perfectly the relationship between color and shape, a talent which rightfully earned him the name "Master of Color".