This study introduces a set of explanations on originality and on what revolves around the openness of
the innovator to the others' culture, when inspiration is no longer found in the surrounding and the road
has become blocked. However, reality-re
jection spirit drives an artist to look for new ideas away from
repeated and prevalent aesthetics and pushes him to search for salvation. Matisse has found salvation
through his openness to other world cultures and civilizations, especially the Islamic Arab civilization
from which he extracted themes going with his originaelity. The title of this study has required as to
deal briefly with four issues:
1- West And East and the crisis of the western art.
2- Some aesthetic features of Islamic Arab art.
3- Who is Matisse.
4- Matisse on the in-between isthmus.
