Reading Passage Question
Henri Matisse’s The Ochre Head represents the artist’s exuberant display of his new mastery of a technique once peculiar to Picasso. Matisse has learned to artfully separatecolor and drawing. The painting depicts a head and shoulders, a bouquet of red flowers in a dark blue vase sitting upon a bench, a framed drawing of a woman’s head, and an unframed painting or drawing, also of a woman. But what is most striking about the painting is the way Matisse has begun to allow his colors and his forms to play freely, even while they are coordinated. The ochre of the head runs out past the form. Bits of blue from the bench appear in the man’s neckline or along his shoulder. The colors of the various frames and surfaces of the drawing on the wall overlap and refuse to be constrained by definite lines of form. Although this technique is not given the kind of free reign Picasso allows it in his Cubist period or in works such as Minotaur, it is still a stunning development for Matisse. And he seems aware of this fact. The painting’s composition references Picasso’s Still Life with Ancient Head from 1925, signaling Matisse’s awareness that he is borrowing from his younger colleague.
“Henri Matisse’s The Ochre Head represents the artist’s exuberant display of his new mastery of a technique once peculiar to Picasso.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
Question1
The author uses the word “peculiar” (Highlighted) to mean which of the following?
(A) strange
(B) abstract
(C) unknown
(D) unique
(E) appealing
Answer: D
Explanation: The word "peculiar” as the author mentions in The Ochre Head by Henri Matisse, refers to the artist's joyful demonstration of his recent mastery of a Picasso-exclusive technique. Matisse has mastered the skill of creatively dividing colour and drawing.
Question 2
The main idea of the passage is to
(A) describe an artistic work and its inspiration
(B) describe how Matisse surpassed Picasso
(C) describe how Matisse developed his style
(D) describe a representative example of Matisse’s work
(E) describe the influence of Picasso on the art world
Answer: A
Explanation: As we read the passage, it becomes clear that the author intended to depict creative creations and sources of inspiration because the composition of the Matisse painting refers to Picasso's 1925 Still Life with Ancient Head. The author continues by mentioning how Matisse has started to let his colours and forms flow freely, even if they are coordinated.
Question 3
According to the passage, all of the following are true of The Ochre Head EXCEPT:
(A) The artist avoided the constraint of coloring only between the lines.
(B) Its arrangement is similar to that of a piece by Picasso.
(C) It is considered among the best of Matisse’s work.
(D) Its use of technique is more constrained than that of Minotaur.
(E) It depicts household objects.
Answer: C
Explanation: As stated in the passage, "The Ochre Head" is an example of the artist's joyful demonstration of his brand-new technical ability. Bits of the bench's blue can be seen in the man's neckline and around his shoulder because Matisse has mastered the skill of artistically separating colour and drawing. The way Matisse has started to let his colours and forms roam freely while yet being coordinated is what stands out most about the work. The head's ochre extends past the shape. The colours of the many surfaces and frames of the drawing on the wall merge and defy being limited by clear form lines.
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