Henri Matisse,: Drawing With Scissors, Masterpieces from the Late Years (Paperback)

by Olivier Berggruen (Editor), Max Hollein (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The genius of Henri Matisse is captured in this vibrant collection of his paper cut-outs, his primary form of expression in the latter part of his career. As Michel Anthonioz, former director of the Musée d'Orsay, writes, the cut-outs allowed Matisse to "bridge the gap between his paintings and drawings, between colour and line." Although the technique of cutting out pieces of paper and gluing them together might sound elementary, the results can be breathtaking. Some works are beautifully simple, such as 1945's The Daisy, which depicts the plain white flower against a soothing green background; others are astonishing in their detail, such as Matisse's oil masterpiece, The Dance. Each piece, however, exudes a sensation of sheer joy, the vibrant colors and playful designs leaping off every page. The editors weave lengthy commentary on Matisse's life and career throughout the book, and while the historical information is essential to understanding the context of Matisse's brilliance, the overabundance of text sometimes takes away from the art's solitary beauty. Nonetheless, this collection of Matisse's paper masterpieces is an essential for aficionados of his art.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Elegant design and excellent reproductions join with accessible essays to make this catalog useful for students of art and design." -- Choice, October 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Publishing (April 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791334735
• ISBN-13: 978-3791334738
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #286,108 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #11 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Artists, A-Z > ( M-O ) > Matisse, Henri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book Worthy of Its Subject, April 7, 2006

By	Bragan Thomas (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Originally published in an expensive hardcover edition as a catalogue to a European exhibition of the same name, Prestel has wisely chosen to republish this important book in a smaller, softbound and attractively priced format. This is an unexpected boon to lovers of Henri Matisse's art, as "Drawing With Scissors" is the most important publication on Matisse's famous last works - the paper cut-outs or gouaches decoupees - to appear in many years, and effectively supercedes John Elderfield's "The Cut-Outs of Henri Matisse" as the best introduction to these famous works. The authors are a noted group of European art historians, and each of the essays here explore different aspects of the making, meaning, and interpretation of these unique objects, from the cut-outs as Matisse's final attempt to unite color and drawing to the cut-outs as revolutionary works which explode the traditional opposition between "high art" and "decoration" in Western history. Although visually simple to the extreme and coloristically exuberant, these last works were the product of many years of searching and investigation into the nature of reality and the creative process, and the authors do justice to the unexpected intellectual heft behind the gorgeous appearance of the cut-outs. Physically, this small book is gorgeous - the layout and design equal the hardcover edition and the quality of the color reproductions is stunning. A must-have for any serious art library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compilation of learned essays on the work of the great artist after age-related illness, June 4, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Compiled and co-edited by art historians Oliver Berggruen and Max Hollein, Henri Matisse: Drawing With Scissors, Masterpieces From The Late Years is a compilation of learned essays on the work of the great artist after age-related illness, which confining him either to his bed or a wheel chair, would no longer permit him to paint, so Mattise took up cutting out colored paper patterns and having his assistants mount them in special patterns under his guidance (often from his wheel chair). The profusely illustrated essays include "Jazz: Rhythm and Meaning (Margret Stuffmann); "Painting with Scissors: Jazz and Verve" (Michael Anthonioz); "Drafts for Publications and Maquettes" (Ingrid Pfeiffer); "Decoration beyond Decoration" (Remi Labrusse); "Resonance and Depth in Matisse's Paper Cut-Outs" (Olivier Berggruen); "The Windows in the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence" (Ingrid Pfeiffer); "Philodenros" (Hannes Bohringer); and "Painting alone remains full of adventure - Matisse's Cut-Outs as an Inspiration for Nicolas de Stael, Ellsworth Kelly and Andy Warhol" (Gunda Luyken). A superb guide, Henri Matisse is very strongly recommended addition to personal and academic library Art History reference collections is enhanced with the inclusion of an informative foreword by Max Hollein and Olivier Berggruen, an extensive biography of Mattise, a list of illustrated works, and a selected bibliography for further study.