Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse met for the first time in 1906 in Paris. Matisse, born in 1869, was 37 and already a successful artist. He was self-assured but rather reserved. Picasso, born in 1881, was 25, passionate, decisive and ambitious. He was at the start of his career but already famous for his great talent.
In 1907 Matisse and Picasso began a powerful dialogue through their art. They often did paintings of similar subjects.
The Frenchman inspired Picasso to use color; the Spaniard inspired Matisse to experiment with style. Picasso said that ‘No one has looked at Matisse’s painting more carefully than I, and no one has looked at mine more carefully than he.’ The first joint exhibition of their works was in 1918 in Paris. Since then, there have been two more major exhibitions about Picasso and Matisse’s very special and creative relationship. People have often described the two artists as rivals who were jealous of each other’s work, but Matisse said their disagreements were always friendly.
After the Second World War, Picasso moved to the South of France where Matisse lived and the two artists spent a great deal of time together. ‘When one of us dies,’ said Matisse, ‘there will be some things that the other will never be able to talk with anyone else.’ Matisse died in 1954, but until his own death in 1973 Picasso continued to refer back to Matisse in his work.
Compare these three sentences from the text.
1) Since then, there have been two more major exhibitions about Picasso and Matisse’s very special and creative relationship.
2)People have often described the two artists as rivals who were jealous of each other’s work.
3) Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse met for the first time in 1906.
There are two grammar tenses used: the Present Perfect and the Past Simple. Review your notes on the use of these two tenses. What is the difference?
2) Much of the equipment in the office needs updating.
3) A car is a means of transport.
4) How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?
5) When I got to the theatre, they were already playing the second act.
6) Unusual facts, marvels are called phenomena.
7) The brown sweater is the best.
8) That was the most interesting movie I have ever seen.
9) Uncle Carl is really a sweet old man.
10) Which is the longest river, the Dnipro or the Dnister?
11) Fanny can sew dresses so well.
12) Taras drives dangerously.
13) Those apples look delicious. May I have one?
14) She often sneaks out of the house quietly.
15) I absolutely refuse to stay here any longer.
Muscle Contraction: Muscles are made up of bundles of individual muscle fibers. When these muscle fibers receive signals from the nervous system, they contract, which means they shorten and generate force. This contraction is the primary mechanism by which muscles create movement.
Muscle Groups and Antagonistic Pairs: Muscles often work in groups and pairs to create coordinated movements. For example, when you bend your arm at the elbow, the biceps muscle contracts, while the triceps muscle relaxes. These muscles are known as antagonistic pairs, as they have opposing actions.
Tendons and Bones: Muscles are attached to bones via tendons, which are strong connective tissues. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the attached tendon, which, in turn, pulls on the bone, causing movement around the joint.
Muscle Fiber Types: Our muscles consist of different types of muscle fibers, including slow-twitch fibers and fast-twitch fibers. Slow-twitch fibers are responsible for endurance activities and sustained contractions, while fast-twitch fibers generate more force and are involved in quick, powerful movements.
Muscle Synergies: Multiple muscles often work together in a coordinated manner to perform complex movements. These muscle synergies involve the activation and synchronization of various muscle groups to produce smooth and efficient motions.
Fine Motor Control: In addition to larger movements, our muscles also enable fine motor control. Small, intricate movements, such as typing on a keyboard or holding a pen, require precise coordination of muscles and motor units to execute precise actions.