Matisse

Description

The Fauvist: Brilliant color, simple forms, and purity of expression are the hallmarks of Matisse's work Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is known not only as one of the most important French painters of the 20th century but also as co-founder and leading exponent of Fauvism. His work reflects an ongoing quest for the expressive power of pure, brilliant colors and simple forms; as a result, the realistic presentation of nature often retires to a secondary position. For Matisse, color did not serve as a tool for the expression of subjective feelings, but rather became the equivalent of light itself: it functioned as a pure medium in the creation of an autonomous pictorial space: "Out of my fruitful work with discovered tones there must emerge a vital color harmony, a harmony that is analogous to a musical composition." As a creative artist, Matisse was not only a painter, but also experimented with other materials: he produced glass windows and theater designs and created significant sculptures in bronze, ceramic and clay. In old age, confined to a wheelchair, he created collages with colored paper, glue, and scissors: his famed gouache cut-outs. About the Series: Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions Review: Excellent edition. Taschen as always. - Excellent edition. Taschen as always. Volume: Large enough and thin for daily use if you are interested in art contemplation at home or at breaks in real hard working days, specially if you're taste is bent to contemporary figurative art Review: great book - Lovely book. Illustrations and text complement each other. Of course, it is a Taschen book, always the best quality from this publisher.