Matisse : Métamorphoses

Exhibition at Kunsthaus Zurich, 30 August-8 December 2019;
Musée Matisse, Nice, 7 February-6 May 2020

During his career, painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) also worked with clay and plaster. In this respect, the four bronze reliefs Nu de dos I-IV are not only his most important plastic work but also a milestone in modern sculpture. Starting from a naturalistic modelling style, Matisse gradually achieved an abstraction of his figures that culminated in a radical stylisation. However, he kept the decisive "states" as sculptures in their own right, thus revealing the stages of the creative process.

This exhibition catalogue establishes for the first time the links between these metamorphoses. Matisse's various sources of inspiration - nude photographs, antique and African models - as well as photographs showing the artist working on sculpture complete this presentation and reveal the French master in a little-known light.