The Life & Art of Henri Matisse (1869–1954)
This DVD is from the "Artists of the 20th Century" series. This episode explores the life & art of French painter Henri Matisse.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French artist, known for his use of color & fluid draftsmanship. Although he was a draftsman, printmaker & sculptor, Matisse was mainly a painter. His paintings are among the most popular of the 20th century.
Early in his art career, his peers called him "The Fauve" (Eng. trans. "wild
beast"). By the 1920s, Matisse was acclaimed as keeper of French painting's classical traditions. His artwork displayed for more than 50 years. Matisse became known as an innovator of expression via a language of color & originality. He became a leader who ushered in modern art.
In 1887, at 18yo, Matisse went to Paris to study law. He worked as a court administrator. In 1889, 20yo. Matisse started to paint for the 1st time. While recovering from appendicitis, his mother brought him art supplies. It was then that Matisse decided to become an artist, much to his father's chagrin. In 1891, Matisse returned to Paris, this time to study art at the Académie Julian. He became a student of William-Adolphe Bouguereau & Gustave Moreau.
In 1896, Matisse exhibited 5 paintings. The state bought 2. In 1897 & 98, he went to the island Belle Île, to see the painter John Peter Russell. Russell turned Matisse on to "Impressionism" & the artwork of Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh was an unknown painter whose work was admired by Russell, his friend. After his trip, Matisse's style changed so much he claimed Russell had been his real mentor of color theory. From that point on, Matisse was influenced by the works of Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Edouard Manet, Nicolas Poussin & Antoine Watteau; then by the "Post-Impressionists," Cézanne, Gauguin, van Gogh & Signac. He also showed interest in Auguste Rodin & Japanese art.
In 1904, 35yo. Matisse & 23yo. Picasso met for the 1st time. They became lifelong friends & rivals. Matisse drew & painted nature. Picasso worked from his imagination. The subjects both of them painted most often were still life & women. Matisse & Picasso were 1st brought together by Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas in their Paris salon. Stein & Toklas became key patrons, collectors & supporters of Matisse's & Picasso's paintings. Between Stein, her family & friends, hundreds of Matisse's & Picasso's paintings were brought into the US. Etta & Clarabel Cone amassed so many now hang in the Baltimore Museum of Art, as the Cone Collection.
The 1st painting of Matisse's included in a public collection was "Still Life with Geraniums" (1910). A Matisse painting sells for around $17 million, now.
"Reclining Nude I (Dawn)," a Matisse sculpture, sold for $9.2 million, in 2002.
"The Plum Blossoms" (1948) was bought for the Museum of Modern Art by Henry Kravis & the museum's president, Marie-Josée Drouin. The estimated cost was $25 million, in 2005. It hadn't been publicly viewed since 1970.
Matisse's daughter, Marguerite, helped Matisse scholars with insights into her dad's work methods & works. In 1982, she died while compiling a catalog of his work. Matisse's son, Pierre (1900-1989), opened a modern art gallery in NYC in the 1930s. The Pierre Matisse Gallery was active from 1931-89. It exhibited many European & a few American & Canadian artists, often for the 1st time. Matisse's grandson, Paul, is an artist in Massachusetts. Matisse's great granddaughter, Sophie, is an artist in 2009!~Read full review
