Henri Matisse: Erotic Sketches/Erotische Skizzen (Erotic Sketchbook) [Hardcover]

Eckhard Hollmann (Creator), Ishbel Flett (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Erotic Sketchbook | Publication Date: September 2007

For Henri Matisse, drawing was an exercise as personal as it was essential to his art. Reproduced on elegant paper stock, these black and white and gently coloured sketches allow the viewer to appreciate the quality of Matisse's lines, their confidence and ease, as well as the intense relationship between artist and model. Matisse's joie de vivre, his love of beauty and his fascination with the human body are clearly in evidence in this lovely book that is a pleasure to hold.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The books give a sense of watching the artist at work, following their trains of thought and attempts to marry the concepts of Eros and sexuality. Each book offers perfect examples of the characteristic styles of each artist as well as exhibiting a remarkable distinction in their differing approaches to the given subject'The Art Commerce Journal, April 2007

About the Author

NORBERT WOLF is an art historian and writer based in Munich, Germany. His books include The World of the Saints, 'I Titian,' the Erotic Sketchbooks of Klimt, Schiele, Rodin, Picasso, Rembrandt, and Kokoschka (all by Prestel).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 63 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Publishing; Bilingual edition (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 379133848X
• ISBN-13: 978-3791338484
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Straight Foreword Collection of Matisse's Erotic Sketches, March 12, 2008

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James R. Holland "Author of Boston's Notable ... (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Henri Matisse: Erotic Sketches/Erotische Skizzen (Erotic Sketchbook) (Hardcover)

Thirty-four sketches and an introduction by Norbert Wolf printed in a 64-page format make up this hardbound volume of the Prestel's "Erotic Sketchbook" series. The brief text introduction is only five pages in length and printed in English with another five pages devoted to the German translation. Despite it's brevity, the text is excellent and includes many quotes from Matisse about his art including the following: "I paint odalisques (female slaves or concubines in a harem) in order to paint the nude. Otherwise, how is the nude to be painted without being artificial? But also I saw they exist. I was in Morocco. I saw them."
Frankly I was somewhat disappointed in this book but not because the work wasn't up to par. I was simply expecting to see some erotic works that I was not already familiar with. Unfortunately for me, I was already aware of all of the thirty-four images included in the book. Since the originals are spread out all over the world, many in private collections, this volume at least gathers the various images together in one place for easy reference. The book is easily worth the cost for the serious Matisse admirer.
Wolf also tips the reader off to another book by Lydia Delektorskaja, who was Matisse's assistant and model for four years (1934-39). One of his paintings of her recently sold for $2.2 million dollars. Unfortunately, the only copy currently available of his model's 360 plus page story is rather expensive and the text is in French. Like many people I'll be looking for an English Edition of the book.