matplotlib for R user?

I regularly make figures (the exploratory data analysis type) in R. I also program in Python and was wondering if there are features or concepts in matplotlib that would be worth learning. For instance, I am quite happy with R - but its image() function will produce large files with pixelated output, whereas Matlab's equivalent figure (I also program regularly in Matlab) seems to be manageable in file size and also 'smoothed' - does matplotlib also provide such reductions...? But more generally, I wonder what other advantages matplotlib might confer. I don't mean this to be a trolling question. Thanks.