[1] Fauvism emphasised a strong use of color and painterly qualities, as opposed to realistic representations found in Impressionist art.

[2] Shortly after his visit to Morocco, Matisse produced a series of paintings that included Goldfish between the spring and early summer.

The painting features a "bright orange [that] strongly contrasts with the more subtle pinks and greens that surround the fish bowl and the blue-green background.

"[2] Smarthistory wrote that Goldfish is "an illustration of some of the major themes in Matisse's painting: his use of complementary colors, his quest for an idyllic paradise, his appeal for contemplative relaxation for the viewer and his complex construction of pictorial space.

[3] Goldfish holds the distinction of being the featured Matisse work found in the College Board's AP Art History curriculum.