Final answer:
An artist 'dialogs with art historical tradition' by engaging with past art movements and styles, reflecting this interaction in their own work. Matisse's 'The Joy of Life' is an example, incorporating classical themes with modern styles influenced by predecessors like Cézanne and Van Gogh.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an artist "dialogs with art historical tradition," it means they are engaging in a conversation with the styles, techniques, and subject matter of past artists and movements. This interaction can involve adopting, challenging, or reinterpreting the traditions of the art of earlier times. Henri Matisse's painting The Joy of Life (also known as Bonheur de Vivre), completed in 1905-06, illustrates this dialogue in several ways. Matisse's work references the classical pastoral themes reminiscent of Greece's golden age, yet he infuses the piece with vibrant colors and fluid lines that divorce color from form, leading to a style that feels modern and avant-garde. This approach reflects his engagement with the legacies of artists like Cézanne, Seurat, and Van Gogh, incorporating their influences while creating something uniquely his own. Matisse's piece reflects a languid sensuality within a broad, open landscape, and the relaxed yet spirited figures engage in music, dance, and love, embodying a sense of timeless pleasure while visually breaking from the constraints of traditional representation.