If You Like Henri Matisse, You'll Love Aron Zinshtein

Henri Matisse remains one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century. Born in France in 1869, his paintings, montages, and prints are admired the world over for their clarity and their exuberance.

In 1947, Matisse made this image, The Circus, which was published in a book entitled Jazz. This book was the first major step in his movement from oil-painting to 'cut-outs'. The process to which he dedicated the final years of his life.

The bright, bold colors evoke the exciting thrill of a night at the circus. Wavy lines could be billowing tents, vibrating music, or the sinuous bodies of acrobats and dancers.

Matisse poured his vitality into his work, even as his body grew weaker. His vibrant prints and collages are testament to a life lived to the full, and a mind that saw movement and sought joy in everything.

Aron Zinshtein is a Russian artist, born in Nizhniy Tagil in 1947. He studied at the Ural School of Applied Arts and graduated in 1968. Zinshtein now lives and works in St Petersburg, where he creates paintings, prints, and drawings.

His lively and colorful painting of urban life has earned himself the nickname, 'The Russian Matisse'.

This 1986 painting of a football match is typical of his style. The canvas seems almost alive with movement. Let's take a closer look…

Zinshtein crowds the pitch with players and footballs - far more than real life.

Red curls of paint describe the flexing bodies of the players as they run, leap, and tackle.

Flares and flags go flying above the stands.

It's a riotous affair, full of the noise and the fever of match day. As if we can hear the chants of the crowd.

At the far end, a single goalie waits, anxiously anticipating a well-aimed strike. Flecks of paint suggest a sense of nervousness.

In our contemporary world of conceptual art, it's refreshing to find a painter that revels in the joy of everyday life.