Introduction to ‘Matisse in the Studio’
Monday 7 August 2017 1 - 2pm
The Reynolds Room, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly
Free, booking required.
Matisse in the Studio
Step into the studio of Henri Matisse, as co-curator Ann Dumas introduces the exhibition and discusses the ways in which Matisse’s collection of objects from Africa, Asia and the Middle East was a constant stimulus for his art.
"I have worked all my life before the same objects" – Henri Matisse, 1951
Matisse filled his studios with a wide range of objects, furniture and textiles from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, creating an atmosphere of rich sensuality and that was reflected in his work. Matisse’s African masks and sculptures led him to radically simplify the human face and form in his art. Studio props from the Islamic world conjured the exotic interiors of his odalisque paintings and a Chinese calligraphy panel inspired his creative leap to the pure, coloured abstraction of the late cut-outs. In this introduction to the exhibition, co-curator Ann Dumas highlights how Matisse in the Studio is an intimate invitation to explore this extraordinary artist’s creative process.
All unclaimed seats will be released at 12.55pm on the day of the event. A returns queue will be held in De Grey Court from 12.30pm.