Matisse 1941-1954

Matisse 1941-1954
at the Grand Palais, Paris
until 26 July
Monday 22 June at 6pm 

At the age of 71, and following major surgery, Henri Matisse could so easily have decided that it was time to slow down – he had enjoyed an entirely successful career, after all. However, he completely reinvented himself, devising new ways of working and becoming more productive than ever before. 

Focussing on just the last 14 of his 84 years, the Grand Palais has put on a truly monumental exhibition charting this remarkably final flourish: the exhibition includes over 300 works in a wide range of different media. We see his continued interest in painting,  and a continual striving to reduce drawing to its simplest and most essential. His engagement with the exciting possibilities of the paper cut-outs, which allow him to create his most vibrant, joyous, and, for that matter, largest works ever, can only be described as inspiring. In many ways the exhibition space is not unlike Tate’s famous Snail – starting with smaller spaces and gradually expanding. 

Far rather than going ‘gently into that good night’ we see Matisse grabbing every opportunity with seemingly increasing vigour. Given the number of works on display I will finally have to engage the discipline I always say it on it way – but I will include such wonderfully images as the album Jazz, the Vence Interiors, the stained glass windows and great mural cut-outs. 

Please remember, I do not record my talks