Like XIV – The Cowboy, 2024.34.14, Matisse’s The Knife Thrower is composed as two opposing sides. On the left, the knife thrower, rendered in purple, begins his act; while on the right, the woman illustrated in pale blue prepares to have knives thrown at her. Matisse depicts her heart as a cutout flower. In contrast to the violent performance that is unfolding, the artist includes sixteen whimsical flowers in black and blue that surround the figures, though none of these flowers seem to correspond with the negative space at her heart.