A new exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago showcases the vibrant creativity of Henri Matisse during the latter part of his career. Titled “Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color,” the exhibit opened recently and will run until June 1, 2024. It focuses on Matisse’s innovative cut-outs, particularly featured in the artist’s seminal 1947 book, “Jazz.”
Rather than presenting an extensive retrospective, this exhibition offers a more intimate exploration of Matisse’s work, making it appealing in its own right. Visitors will find all 20 color plates from “Jazz” displayed for the first time at the museum, providing a focused look at Matisse’s artistic journey leading up to this iconic work. The exhibition is organized by Emily Ziemba, a research curator in the museum’s department of prints and drawings.
The Art Institute has a long-standing relationship with Matisse, having acquired its first piece by the artist, a print, in 1922. The museum has continued to expand its collection, including the recent addition of “The Seamstress” (1900), donated by gallerists Richard Gray and Mary Gray in 2022. The current exhibition allows the public to view rarely displayed pieces alongside the celebrated cut-outs.
Matisse’s cut-outs emerged after he underwent serious abdominal surgery in 1941. This innovative technique involved the use of colorful abstract shapes, which he cut from gouached sheets of paper and collaged. He pursued this method almost exclusively from the mid-1940s until his passing in 1954. The plates from “Jazz,” measuring 16.5 by 26 inches, were meticulously reproduced by the Tériade printing atelier in Paris, using hand-painted color stencils. The imagery depicts lively circus scenes, mythological figures, and Matisse’s reminiscences of Tahiti, conveying a sense of vibrancy that remains striking nearly 80 years later.
The original edition of “Jazz” included 250 copies, with an additional 100 copies of just the color plates. The Art Institute smartly purchased its copy shortly after its release in 1947 for just $375, which today is regarded as an exceptional value.
In addition to “Jazz,” the exhibition features another major cut-out, “Oceania-The Sea” (1948), which was screen printed onto a large linen sheet measuring 5.5 by 12.5 feet. This display also includes various artist books and earlier works, emphasizing recurring themes in Matisse’s art, particularly his odalisques, or reclining nudes. Notable pieces such as the bronze “Seated Nude” (1922-29, cast 1951) and the lithograph “Large Odalisque in Striped Pantaloons” (1925) are also on view.
The exhibition thoughtfully highlights Matisse’s recurring motifs, with works like “Daisies” (1939) suggesting his evolving style. The oil on canvas features sections that appear almost cut-out, prefiguring the approach he took with his later cut-outs.
Interestingly, this exhibition serves as a complementary follow-up to a previous show in the prints and drawings galleries that focused on Matisse’s modernist counterpart, Pablo Picasso. Ziemba noted, “We haven’t done a Matisse project in our [print and drawings] galleries ever, so I just think it was naturally time.”
“Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color” captures a transformative period in the artist’s career, showcasing how he redefined his creative output in his seventies. The exhibition invites art lovers to appreciate the enduring appeal of Matisse’s work and its relevance in the contemporary art scene.
