Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954

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Matisse was born in 1869 to generations of weavers in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, a northern French town whose woolen mills constituted the main industry. He was raised in nearby Bohain, famous for its luxury fabrics. This early exposure to textiles would shape his visual language: examples from his own collection of carpets and cloths from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East would deeply inform his sense of color and pattern and appear in his compositions.

Taking up painting after first studying law, Matisse studied with the Symbolist Gustave Moreau and participated in Paris’s official Salons. His breakthrough as an artist came during the summers of 1904 and 1905, when the bright sunlight of the South of France inspired him—along with artists like André Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck—to create optically dynamic works of bright, clashing colors that led to these artists being derided with the epithet fauves (wild beasts). Known as Fauvism, the work from this period set him on a career-long path that he described as “construction by colored surfaces.”3 This approach remained central through the various stages of Matisse’s body of work—from his rigorous, abstracted paintings of the 1910s to the decorative, sunlit interiors of his so-called “Nice period” of the 1920s to the radically innovative cut-outs of his last decade.

https://www.moma.org/artists/3832, introduction by Samantha Friedman, Assistant Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints, 2016

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Les Trois soeurs [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Bignou Gallery. Bignou Gallery Albums, circa 1930s-1940s. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Autograph letters signed (34) : mainly Nice, Paris and Venice, to Paul Rosenberg, 1939-1949. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Femmes au canapé [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Macy, George. George Macy papers, 1916-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Elise Stern Haas Family Papers, 1789-1992, (1893-1990) Bancroft Library
referencedIn Fry, Roger Eliot, 1866-1934. Letters sent to Simon Bussy and family, 1903-1928. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse, masterworks from the Museum of Modern Art : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Typed letters signed : [n.p.], to Paul Rosenberg, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Maurice Sterne papers Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gilot, Françoise, 1921-. Matisse and Picasso : a friendship in art / Françoise Gilot. University of London, Courtauld Institute of Art, Book Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Le Nu rose [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946. Papers of Gertrude Stein [manuscript], 1922-1955. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Correspondence and other papers relating to Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell, Clive Bell, Duncan Grant and others, 1896-1960 Tate Gallery Archive
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. La Jeune fille et le vase de fleurs [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Autograph letter signed : [Paris], to an unidentified friend, 1918 Apr. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Cowart, Jack,. Jack Cowart Papers 1969-1991. Baltimore Museum of Art Library & Archives
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Etchings by Matisse. 1955-1957 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Autograph File, M Houghton Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Henri Matisse : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Barr, Alfred Hamilton, 1902-1981. Alfred H. Barr, Jr. papers, 1927-1984. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Saint-Maur, 1906-. Letters received, 1949-1950. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Miscellaneous art exhibition catalog collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Le Divan [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf MATISSE, HENRI. Franklin Furnace artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Russell, Morgan, 1886-1953. Morgan Russell archives and collection, 1884, 1908-1959. Montclair art museum
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse, Picasso and les Demoiselles d'Avignon. 1993 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Ballets Russes collection, 1911-1962. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse, Nuit de Noel and liturgical vestments. 1988-1989 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Letters, 1904-1953. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Albert Loeb & Krugier Gallery. Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954 : artist file. The Barnes Foundation, Barnes Foundation Libraries and Special Collections
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Prints of Henri Matisse from the Museum of Modern Art. 1988 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Jelenko, Thérèse, 1884-1967. Thérèse Jelenko reminiscences, circa 1965. University of California, Bancroft Library, ARL
referencedIn Artists collection, ca. 1902-1939. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971. Papers of Rockwell Kent [manuscript], 1914-1921, 1965. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Autograph letters signed (3), typed letters signed (2) and greeting card signed (1) : Nice and Paris, to John Rewald, 1949 Feb. 12-1954 Jan. 18. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). The last works of Henri Matisse. 1961 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Herman J. Wechsler papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Françoise Gilot Collection TXRC06-A22., 1944-1965 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Lucien and Marcelle Labaudt papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Valentine Gallery records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse, Jazz. 1983-1984: Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf MATISSE, HENRI. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Nature morte aux oranges [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Correspondence and contracts, 1938-1939. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. ALS, 1934 April 20 : Nice, to Paul Leon. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Alexander Liberman photography archive, circa 1925-1998, undated Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Le Boudoir [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation research files, 1920-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse. 1951-1952 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Church, Ralph Withington. Ralph Withington Church papers, [ca. 1926-1955] UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Claribel and Etta Cone letters Archives of American Art
referencedIn Max Raphael papers, 1931-1990 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Odalisque à la culotte rouge [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Pierre Matisse Gallery (New York, N.Y.). Pierre Matisse Gallery archives, 1903-1990 1931-1990. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Rosenshine, Annette, 1880-1971. Life's Not a Paragraph : ms., [undated]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1931-1969, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Library Collection of Study Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1930-2000 Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
referencedIn Alfred Hamilton Barr papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Rysselberghe, Théo van. Correspondence, ca. 1889-1926. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Levy, Harriet Lane. Harriet Lane Levy recollections : typescript (carbon), circa 1906-1950. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse, 64 paintings . 1966 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Henry McBride papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Varian Fry Papers, [ca. 1940]-1967 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Elizabeth Fuller Chapman papers and films, 1932-1976 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
contributorOf Harald Szeemann Papers
creatorOf Junge, E. Interview with Henri Matisse (transcript), 1951 April 20. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse. 1931 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Emeline Clark Roche Collection, 1815-1988 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, including remainder-interest and promised gifts. 1978 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse, The Swimming Pool. 1977 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Ekstrom Collection: Diaghilev and Stravinsky Foundation, 1902-1984 V & A Department of Theatre and Performance
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Henri Matisse. 1992-1993 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Marguerite [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Hélion, Jean, 1904-1987. Autograph letter signed : Paris, to Paul Rosenberg in Cannes, 1946 Aug. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf William E. Katzenbach papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Varian Fry Papers, [ca. 1940]-1967 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse in Morocco. 1990 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. La piscine [Multimédia multisupport]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). The drawings of Henri Matisse. 1985: Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1920-1948, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Rosenshine, Annette, 1880-1971. Annette Rosenshine papers, 1885-1998 (bulk 1907-1971). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas correspondence, circa 1951-1966. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Howard D. Rothschild collection on, Ballets Russes, of Serge Diaghilev, 1909-1956 (inclusive), 1909-1914 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Frizeau, Gabriel. Letters received : Bordeaux, from André Lhote and Ary Leblond, Paris, 1908-1929. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Nu bleu [Multimédia multisupport] : souvenir de Biskra 1907. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. [Henri Matisse] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
referencedIn Walter Pach papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Gloria de Herrera papers, 1936-1996 (bulk 1947-1985) Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas papers, 1837-1961 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Jean Crotti papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. La piscine. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Jelenko, Thérèse, 1884-1967. Thérèse Jelenko papers and photographs, 1899-1960. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Forbes Watson papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn North, Percy. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1971. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Library Collection of Study Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1930-2000 Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
referencedIn Frank Perls papers and Frank Perls Gallery records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Pierre Matisse Gallery printed material Archives of American Art
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Interview with Pierre Courthion and related papers, 1940-1941. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Records of the Svensk-Franska Konstgalleriet (Stockholm, Sweden) and the Galerie Bonnier, 1918-1997 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Eugène and Maria Jolas Papers Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Letter to Leonide Massine, 1953 August 30. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Dr. Claribel and Miss Etta Cone Papers, 1885-1949. Baltimore Museum of Art Library & Archives
creatorOf Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Nu bleu : souvenir de Biskra 1907. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Matisse, Henri : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Matisse chasubles. 1955-1956 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Pierre Courthion papers, 1901-1987 Getty Research Institute
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Nicholas Krushenick Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Peter Agostini Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Agostini, Peter. person
associatedWith Ballets russes. corporateBody
associatedWith Barr, Alfred Hamilton, 1902- person
associatedWith Bell née Stephen, Vanessa, 1879-1961 person
associatedWith Bignou Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Carrière, Eugène, 1849-1906. person
associatedWith Cézanne, Paul, 1839-1906. person
associatedWith Chachaut, Lucien. person
associatedWith Chapman, Elizabeth Fuller. person
associatedWith Church, Ralph Withington. person
associatedWith Cone, Etta. person
associatedWith Courthion, Pierre person
associatedWith Courthion, Pierre. person
associatedWith Cowart, Jack, person
associatedWith Crotti, Jean, 1878-1958. person
associatedWith De Herrera, Gloria person
associatedWith De Herrera, Gloria, 1929-1985. person
associatedWith Donias, Henri. person
associatedWith Dubois, Paul, 1848-1918. person
associatedWith Ekstrom, Parmenia Migel., 1908-1989 person
associatedWith Escholier, Raymond, 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Frizeau, Gabriel. person
associatedWith Fry, Roger Eliot, 1866-1934. person
associatedWith Fry, Varian, 1907-1967. person
associatedWith Galerie Bonnier. corporateBody
associatedWith Gilot, Françoise, 1921- person
associatedWith Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. person
associatedWith Hélion, Jean, 1904-1987. person
associatedWith Howard D. Rothschild. person
associatedWith Jambon, Marcel, 1848-1908. person
associatedWith Jelenko, Thérèse, 1884-1967. person
associatedWith Jolas, Eugène, 1894-1952. person
associatedWith Joyce, James, 1882-1941. person
associatedWith Junge, E. person
associatedWith Katzenbach, William E., 1904-1975. person
associatedWith Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Krushenick, Nicholas, 1929- person
associatedWith Labaudt, Lucien, 1880-1943. person
associatedWith Leon, Paul. person
associatedWith Level, André. person
associatedWith Levy, Harriet Lane. person
associatedWith Lhote, André, 1885-1962. person
associatedWith Liberman, Alexander, 1912-1999. person
associatedWith Macy, George. person
associatedWith Margo Leavin Gallery corporateBody
associatedWith Marquet, Albert, 1875-1947. person
associatedWith McBride, Henry, 1867-1962. person
associatedWith Meerson, Olga. person
associatedWith Montross Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Moreau, Gustave, 1826-1898. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith North, Percy. person
associatedWith Pach, Walter person
associatedWith Pach, Walter, 1883-1958. person
associatedWith Perls, Frank corporateBody
associatedWith Perls, Frank, 1910-1975. person
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Rewald Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Rosenberg Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Rosenberg Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Raphael, Max, 1889-1952 person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Renoir, Auguste, 1841-1919. person
associatedWith Rewald, John, 1912-1994, person
associatedWith Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995 person
associatedWith Rodin, Auguste, 1840-1917. person
associatedWith Rosenberg, Alexandre P., person
associatedWith Rosenberg, Paul, person
associatedWith Rosenshine, Annette, 1880-1971. person
associatedWith Rouault, Georges, 1871-1958. person
associatedWith Russell, Morgan, 1886-1953. person
associatedWith Rysselberghe, Théo van. person
associatedWith Saint-Maur, 1906- person
associatedWith Sardon, Jean Claude, 1904-1967. person
associatedWith Sembat, Marcel, 1862-1922. person
associatedWith Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946. person
associatedWith Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Sterne, Maurice, 1878-1957. person
associatedWith Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Thorndike, Charles, 1875-1935. person
associatedWith Valentine Gallery (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Watson, Forbes person
associatedWith Watson, Forbes, 1880-1960. person
associatedWith Wechsler, Herman J. (Herman Joel), 1904-1976. person
associatedWith Zervos, Christian. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Arts, French
Fauvism
Sculpture, French
Painting, French
Post-impressionism (Art)
Occupation
Artists
Artists
Composers
Painters
Sculptors
Activity

Person

Birth 1869-12-31

Death 1954-11-03

Male

French

French

Information

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Ark ID: w6rn3b48

SNAC ID: 36933814