Matisse Portraits [Hardcover]

Mr. John Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

An account of Henri Matisse's activity as a maker of portraits and self-portraits. The author considers the transaction that produces a portrait - a transaction between the artist and the sitter that is social as much as artistic - and investigates the social contexts of Matisse's sitters.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Klein (art history, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia) uses Matisse's portraits to illustrate various aspects of portraiture, from the social, philosophical, historical, and psychological to the purely painterly. Through vivid descriptions of the paintings and discussions of the artist's relationships with his sitters family, friends, patrons, colleagues, etc. he develops the initial broad theoretical discussion of portraiture into a particular chronological analysis of the meaning of portrait painting to Matisse's life and work. Some of Matisse's paintings of his wife are distant, while portraits of his daughter seem more intimate, however isolated she may appear. Especially interesting is the artist's portrayal of himself throughout his life, revealing his introspection, integrity, and persona. John Russell's Matisse: Father and Son (LJ 5/15/99) will satisfy the desire for more details on the artist's character and family life. Here, however, Klein provides a novel approach to understanding one of the 20th century's most important artists as well as a fresh definition of a heretofore ill-defined genre. Lush illustrations are plentiful throughout. Artists and art students interested in portraiture, as well as specialists, will want this book. Recommended for all types of Western art book collections. Ellen Bates, New York

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

A complex and challenging presentation, thoroughly documented and attractively illustrated. -- Choice

Brilliant reproductions are enriched by old photographs and sketches from Matisse's notebooks. -- Toronto Globe & Mail

[A] fresh psychologocial view of one aspect of Henri Matisse's body of work. -- Terry Michael, Victoria

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1St Edition edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300081006
• ISBN-13: 978-0300081008
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Portraits

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than artbook - it is an art appreciation book, March 20, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Matisse Portraits (Hardcover)

Matisse Portraits by John Klein (associate professor of art history at the University of Missouri-Columbia) is a comprehensive survey and analysis of the artwork of Henri Matisse, who especially devoted himself to human figure and portraits of sitters. Klein goes a step further to provide an in-depth, scholarly commentary upon individual works and the aggregate body of Matisse's portraits. Filled with black-and-white and color illustrations of Matisse's artwork, Matisse Portraits is more than artbook - it is an art appreciation book, filled with discourse and thoughtful analysis. Highly recommended for academic and art school collections, as well as true art aficionados with an interest in the work of Henri Matisse.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scholarly yet handsome volume, February 13, 2008

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Matisse Portraits (Hardcover)

Matisse Portraits is a serious discussion with extensive text of the artist's work in that genre, which in this instance includes self-portraiture and family groups. Following the Introduction the book is divided into seven chapters. Firstly the writer explores "the problems posed by portraiture of other individuals to an artist who was resolute that the goal of his work was self-expression". The next three chapters concern themselves with the move from private to public self-expression: Chapter 2 deals with Matisse's early portraits; Chapter 3 with portraits of is family and how he manages the treatment of those with whom he has close emotional ties; Chapter 4 with portraiture beyond the immediate family but not yet public, those who were sympathetic to his efforts.

Chapters 4 and 5 consider the public aspect of his portraiture and self-portraiture; firstly his patronage and portrait commission, then the artist's self-portraiture at a time when he achieved a level of fame. The final Chapter the writer considers "the phenomenon of the portrait-like depiction of a hired model in Matisse's work in answer to the problems that portraiture's social dimension posed".

The book closes with a section under the heading "Conclusion - Signing Off: The End of the Portrait". There are extensive Notes; a Select Bibliography; and an Index.

This is a scholarly yet very readable study; the writer discusses Matisse's work at length, and the individual paintings in detail, drawing comparisons, occasionally with the work of other artists.

It is illustrated throughout with around 200 illustrations, the vast majority in full colour; those in black and white are mostly monotone drawings. The images vary in size and include the quite small, but there are many good sized pictures of a quarter, half or full-page, with a few full-page bleed images, invariable of a detail from a painting. The images run with the text and most usefully appear alongside the relevant passages.

This is an impressive well laid-out book printed on quality paper; a most handsome volume.