These archival photographs present an illuminating, deeply personal look at key moments and memorable milestones from Matisse’s diverse and prolific career.
Education and influence
Following his entrance into the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in 1895, Matisse begins looking at the work of many 19th century masters. His paintings show the influence of several artists, including Georges Seurat and Paul Cézanne.
"Wild" things
Increasingly comfortable in his ability to push artistic boundaries, Matisse’s experimental use of color positions him as one of the leading members of the Fauvist movement (from the French term "les fauves," meaning "the wild beasts"). His first Fauvist paintings are exhibited in the Salon d’Automne in 1905 and are denounced as scandalous by art critics.
Inspired journeys
Throughout his career, Matisse’s travels are times of inspiration, the effects of which are often seen in subsequent work. In 1912, Matisse travels to Morocco with his wife. Having grown up in a family active in the textile industry, it is perhaps not surprising that Matisse is drawn to the colorful fabrics available in Moroccan markets—he acquires several different patterns and takes them back to France where he uses them in a wide range of works.
A time of change
After meeting Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1917 and the end of World War I in 1918, Matisse leaves behind his more avant-garde approach and begins looking back at various art historical references. He is particularly intrigued by the odalisque, a theme explored previously by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, among many others.
Center stage
After creating his acclaimed work, Dance (I) nearly a decade earlier, Matisse is commissioned in 1920 to design sets and costumes for Sergei Diaghilev’s ballet Song of the Nightingale, signaling a continued interest in this subject—one that would remain throughout his lifetime.
International acclaim
In 1930, Matisse accepts the commission to create his grand mural on the subject of modernist dance on three lunettes at the Barnes Foundation.
Bonjour, Tahiti
In 1930 at age 60, Matisse boards a cargo and passenger steamer bound for Tahiti with an open-ended return ticket. Matisse uses his time in the South Pacific to seek out new inspirations and subjects for his art. The vibrant colors and lush organic forms he sees during his three-month stay will have a lasting impact on his work moving forward.
All that jazz
In 1943, he shifts his focus almost entirely to projects inspired by paper cut-outs and begins work on Jazz, a seminal print series that is published in 1947.
A celebration of color and light
The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence is created and decorated from 1949-1951. Regarded by many as one of the crowning achievements of Matisse’s career, the church features extraordinary stained glass windows and three large murals.