Color Unbound: Henri Matisse 1941-1954

About this book

Published to accompany the major exhibition opening at the Grand Palais, Paris, Color Unbound reveals the dazzlingly original work of Matisse's final years. 1941 marked a turning point in the life and work of Henri Matisse. At the age of seventy-two, he underwent major surgery that left him physically fragile. Yet Matisse viewed this moment not as a setback but as an opportunity "to make the greatest progress of my life." From that point until his death in 1954, he entered one of the most inspired and productive periods of his career. During those years, he created some of his greatest masterpieces—from the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence to his luminous cutout gouaches, including Jazz. Vibrant and full of life, his late work stands in striking contrast to his declining physical state: dynamic, immediate, and universally accessible. Published to accompany the major exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, this catalog brilliantly captures this late burst of creative vitality. Elegantly designed and beautifully printed, it brings together superb full-page reproductions of Matisse's artworks alongside rarely seen photographs of his studio, taken by renowned photographers such as Adant, Capa, Carone, Cartier-Bresson, Sima, and Maywald. This visual dialogue—enriched by expert commentary—offers a deeper understanding of Matisse's final years and vividly conveys the synergy between art and life.

Details

Format

Hardcover

ISBN-13

9780500031575

Publisher

Thames & Hudson

Published

September 1, 2026

Pages

480

Weight

62.4 oz

Subject

Art