Exploring Henri Matisse: The Art Of Cut-Outs And His Lasting Legacy

Henri Matisse, a pivotal figure in modern art, created some of the most significant works of his career during the final decade of his life. He utilized simple materials, specifically colorful sheets of paper, to craft his iconic "cut-out" artworks. By describing this innovative technique as “drawing with scissors,” Matisse was able to explore various themes and subjects, showcasing his creativity even as he faced personal challenges.

This late period of Matisse’s art is currently on display in the exhibition “Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In collaboration with Tate Modern in London, the exhibition features around 100 cut-outs borrowed from various museums and private collections globally. These cut-outs are presented alongside sketches, archival photographs, and materials that provide a comprehensive view of this innovative and transformative chapter in Matisse’s artistic journey.

Brush and Canvas, Scissors and Paper

Matisse began using paper cut-outs as a way to design artworks in other mediums. He would arrange small forms cut from sheets of paper to visualize the composition, color, and contrast before painting on canvas. This method proved useful not only for his paintings but also for designing stage sets for theater and ballet productions. During the 1930s, his paper cut-outs aided him in creating still-life paintings and finalizing a mural design for the Barnes Foundation museum in Pennsylvania.

His cut-out technique remained a secret for years, until he started working on Jazz, published in 1947. This illustrated book featured themes of the circus, showcasing lively paper acrobats, clowns, and animals. Yet, it also reflected wartime violence through illustrations of starbursts and falling bodies, highlighting the duality of Matisse’s art during turbulent times.

The Evolution of Cut-Outs in the 1940s

As Matisse aged and faced health challenges, he continued to produce vibrant and dynamic works. Living in southern France, he created art in sunny studios in Vence and Nice. Despite being confined to bed and a wheelchair after surgeries for severe intestinal disease, working with paper allowed him to maintain his artistic output. His studio assistants would paint sheets of paper with colors he selected, and Matisse would then cut out shapes and pin them to a board for final adjustments.

Many of his smaller cut-outs encompassed themes such as female nudes, botanical designs, and geometric compositions. He even crafted covers for books about his own art and works by other artists, including Henri Cartier-Bresson and Guillaume Apollinaire. This innovative use of materials allowed Matisse to adapt and thrive in his creative process during his later years.

A Garden, A Swimming Pool, Memories of Tahiti

In creating larger works, Matisse worked directly on the walls of his studio. Under his guidance, his assistants would pin cut-out pieces to the walls and adjust them according to his vision. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s, his studios were adorned with meticulously arranged groupings of figures, fruits, and flowers, all made from paper. Many of these cut-outs are included in the ongoing exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, where viewers can see the original pinholes and the occasional rough edges left by Matisse’s scissors.

Some of Matisse's largest late works were inspired by memories of places he could no longer visit. Notable examples include "Oceania, the Sky" and "Oceania, the Sea," cut-outs created in 1946 that reflect his experiences during a trip to Tahiti. He described a mural titled “The Parakeet and the Mermaid” as a “little garden all around me where I can walk,” showcasing how he transformed memories into artistic expression.

Matisse’s Swimming Pool: A Surrounding Experience

One of Matisse’s most famous cut-outs, “The Swimming Pool” (1950), was designed specifically for his dining room in Nice. Unable to visit his favorite swimming pool in Cannes, he declared, “I will make myself my own pool.” This resulted in a wide panel featuring bright blue bodies diving and swimming along a white background, enveloping the viewer within the artwork. Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in 1975, this piece has undergone meticulous conservation and is displayed in a gallery modeled after Matisse’s dining room.

Full Circle: Matisse’s Final Years

In his final years, Matisse returned to his earlier methods, using smaller cut-outs to create designs for various media. He conceptualized stained-glass windows and ceramic-tile wall decorations for private homes. His “masterpiece” was the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, completed in 1951, where he utilized his cut-outs to develop decorations like stained-glass windows and vestments for priests. At the Museum of Modern Art, the chapel designs are showcased alongside touch-screen displays with photographs of the building.

Some of Matisse’s last creations were large collages of cut-and-pasted paper, showcasing bold abstraction that rivaled the works of younger contemporary artists. Matisse passed away in 1954 at the age of 84, leaving behind a groundbreaking legacy that continues to inspire artists today. The current exhibition provides a unique opportunity to appreciate Matisse’s cut-outs in all their vivid glory, celebrating the brilliance of a master artist who transformed simplicity into profound beauty.