PARIS – A new exhibition, titled ‘Matisse, 1941-1954,’ has opened its doors at the Grand Palais in Paris, offering an in-depth look into the transformative final years of Henri Matisse’s career. The exhibition, which commenced on March 24 and is scheduled to run until July 26, has already garnered significant attention, with tickets sold out for the remainder of the month.
A Deep Dive into Matisse’s Later Works
The retrospective features more than 300 works, including vibrant cutouts, oil paintings, and intricate stained glass designs. These creations were heavily influenced by a life-altering surgery Matisse underwent at approximately 70 years old, which led to a period of profound reflection and artistic liberation.
Anne Coron, an art historian specializing in Matisse’s gouache cut-outs, commented on this pivotal moment in the artist’s life: “Above all, the shock was that he truly thought he was going to die at that moment, and that decisively changed his mindset. It freed him from all the constraints and all the pressure he imposed on himself, all those somewhat stifling demands, and he no longer held anything back.”
Experimentation and Artistic Freedom
During his recovery, Matisse, then residing in Nice amidst World War II, began experimenting with gouache. Despite the tumultuous historical context, he consciously avoided making explicit artistic statements about the conflict, a stance that sometimes led to him being labeled as a ‘hedonistic bourgeois who stood aloof from the events of history,’ as noted in the exhibition materials.
One notable work from this period, ‘The Romanian Blouse,’ is on display, depicting a woman in a petal-sleeved blouse and blue skirt set against a vivid red background. The exhibition seamlessly transitions from his early vibrant oil paintings to black-and-white drawings of women lounging and still life compositions, allowing visitors to trace the evolution of his style.
The ‘Jazz’ Series and the Chapel at Vence
In 1944, Matisse embarked on a commission from publisher Tériade to create ‘a book about color.’ This project culminated in the renowned ‘Jazz’ series, characterized by gouache cutouts that evoke themes of childhood, the circus, folk tales, and memories of Oceania’s lagoons. The exhibition dedicates a dark, circular room to this series, where cobalt blue, pink, magenta, and orange figures are illuminated by jazz music, accompanied by Matisse’s own poetic texts.
A profound quote from the artist displayed with the ‘Jazz’ series reads: “The human spirit, the artist must bring all their energy, sincerity, and the utmost humility to set aside old clichés during their work.”
Later, in 1943, Matisse moved to Vence, a hillside town near Nice. There, he undertook what he considered his greatest achievement: the design and decoration of the Chapelle du Rosaire. Coron elaborated on the artist’s dedication to this project: “He considered the Vence chapel to be his masterpiece.”
The exhibition’s upstairs gallery recreates the chapel’s atmosphere with backlit stained-glass windows and displays of garments, including chasubles, designed by Matisse for the chapel. Notably, Pablo Picasso reportedly considered these chasubles his favorite part of the project.
Public Reception and Future Plans
The exhibition has been met with enthusiastic responses from visitors. One woman from Alabama, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed her appreciation: “I was glad to see the room with the chapel, that was great. We have culture [in Alabama] too – they think we’re all backward.” Another visitor outside the Grand Palais described the exhibition as ‘formidable,’ emphasizing the impact of seeing the works up close.
The exhibition concludes with a poignant quote from Matisse displayed on a blank wall: “I hope that however long we live to be, we die young.”
The ‘Matisse, 1941-1954’ exhibition offers a comprehensive and intimate look at the artist’s prolific final years, characterized by renewed creativity and an unyielding pursuit of artistic expression.
