Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is considered the most important French artist of the 20th century and, along with Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential modernist painters of the last century.

Matisse began studying drawing and painting in the 1890s. A student of the masters of Post-Impressionism, Matisse later made a reputation for himself as the leader of a group of painters known as Les Fauves. An ironic label given to them by a critic (it means "wild beasts"), the name reflected Matisse´s aggressive strokes and bold use of primary colors.

In 1905 Matisse gained sudden fame with three paintings, including Woman with the Hat, purchased by the wealthy American ex-patriot Gertrude Stein. Beyond painting, he worked with lithographs and sculpture, and during World War II he did a series of book designs. Later in his career he experimented with paper cutouts and designed decorations for the Dominican chapel in Vence, France. Along with Picasso, Matisse was considered one of the world´s greatest living painters throughout his life.

We are happy to show the whole Jazz Portfolio, a very important series of paper cut-outs as well as beautiful odalisquae images.

An odalisque was a female slave or concubine in an Ottoman seraglio, especially the Imperial Harem of the sultan. The Odalisque became a highly inspiring subject for painters during the 19th century. The motif even contributed to an art movement called Orientalism. This term was used to qualify paintings that depited lifestyle in Middle East. Delacroix is one artist often associated with Orientalism.

Henri Matisse visited the French colonies in North Africa (Algeria in 1906 and Morocco in 1912–13) where the brilliant light, exotic environment and Moorish architecture inspired a new body of work. His odalisques have been described by art historian Roger Benjamin as ‘elaborate fictions’ in which the artist re-created the image of the Islamic harem using French models posed in his Nice apartment. The fabrics, screens, carpets, furnishings and costuming recalled the exoticism of the ‘Orient’ and provided a theme for Matisse's preoccupation with the figure and elaborate patter.

Gilden’s Arts Gallery
74 Heath Street
London NW3 1DN United Kingdom
Ph. +44 (0)20 74353340
info@gildensarts.com
www.gildensarts.com

Opening hours
Tuesday - Friday from 9.30am to 6.30pm
Saturday - Sunday from 11.00am to 5.00pm

Related images

  1. Henri Matisse, Face in Three-Quarter View
  2. Henri Matisse, Odalisque with Striped Trousers
  3. Henri Matisse, Lady with a twisted Necklace
  4. Henri Matisse, Catherinette
  5. Henri Matisse, The Yellow Dress with Black Ribbon
  6. Henri Matisse, Portrait of a Martiniquaise