rare original poster (Matisse, 1950)

Description:

- original poster made for the Matisse Museum inauguration day in1963
- Imprimerie Mourlot, Nice (France)
- 99 * 62 cm

This is one of the few originalposters made for the Matisse Museum inauguration in 1963, afterMatisse original painting named "La Danseuse Créole"(1950). 

"The MatisseMuseum in Nice is anational museum devoted to the work of Frenchpainter Henri Matisse. It gathers one of the world''s largestcollections of his works, which shows his artistic beginnings andhis evolution until his last work. Located in the Villa des Arènes,a seventeenth-century villa in the neighborhood of Cimiez, themuseum opened in 1963." (wikipedia)

"Thereare many levels of understanding regard Matisse''s "DanseuseCreole." But this statement applies to allpaintings.

This work was done in the very lastpart of Matisse''s career. He died four years after this work wasdone. In thisperiod, Matisse was bedridden, but his creativeabilities had not waned. So, he turned to making paper cutouts,oftenpasted on large sheets of paper. This he could do in bed.Thetitle of the work means "Creole Dance." The work "creole" is anadaptation from a Castillian-Spanish word,  "criollo." Theword was used to refer to distinct ethic group. However, by thetime Matisse used the term, the word,  "criole" simply meant foreigner. However, inlooking at the work, one can draw some parallels to certainethnic Africanforms.

The word can be parsed in thismanner: the "background" is made of rectilinear forms. I use theword, "background" inthe sense that those geometric forms seem to be behind the dancingfigure. But in Matisse''s work, there isno "background" per se.Matisse was, from about 1905, interested in the design of his work.And everything in the painting participated in the design. One canlook at his work in the early days, as see that the space in hispainting is broughtcloser and closer to the surface of the painting. By this I meanthat work became less expressive of a 3 dimensional space.

So, the level of understanding of aparticular work is increased by the amount ofknowledge of the worksthat preceded it. And, more understanding of a given work will comefrom knowledge of the influences that the artist had experienced.

For, example, early in Matisse''scareer, he went to north African to paint. The nation of Algierswas then under Frenchcontrol. The character of the light in Algiers was a greatinfluence on his later work. He alsoencountered Arabic artwork there. Now, in Islam art, there can be no representation. Thework is quite flat, and extremely decorative. This was a profound influence onMatisse. In fact, some of his work after the trip to Algiers hadthe character of anarabesque.

So, in the "Danseuse Creole" we cansee some of those influences still atwork. Now, back to thepainting: upon the rather geometric "background" are somecurvilinear forms. These have a much

more vital character then the"background." These curvilinear forms represent a dancer. Thevitality and visual excitement of these forms convey a sense of thedance. It seems wild and energetic. In a way, one could saythat there is a dialogbetween the dancer and the "background." The staid character of the"background" is in contrast to the wild abandon of the figure. And thisrelationship makes the dancer seem even more energetic and wild.But,  always, inMatisse''s work there is a control.

One must read too much in the way ofa narrative in Matisse''s work. There is no narrative: thepaintings do not tell a story. And added to that is the opinion thatMatisse once expressed: "I want my work to be a comfortable armchar for the viewer." Bythis he meant that the work was exactly what it was, and was to belooked at as an act that could delight the viewer. So, in the final analysishere is what we find: The work is a decorative and excitingvisual pleasure. Itbecomes more complex, however, as one knows the previous work ofMatisse. The traces of influences

then become apparent as well. But,no academic study should take away the feeling of joy and energythat the work seems toemanate."  (Ben Mahmoud, 2008)

rare original poster (Matisse, 1950)