Leger, Matisse, Morandi and Picasso on view February 2009

Matisse had been working since 1943 on the paper cutouts from circus and theatre motifs for a book for which he also wrote the text.  Drawing with scissors, cutting out shapes from paper colored by himself — this became the aging master’s great passion.  His studio assistants painted sheets of paper with Linel gouaches from which Matisse would cut out shapes.  The prints of the Jazz series were hand-stencilled through pochoir with the same Linel gouaches so the same colors could be achieved that Matisse desired.

Matisse executed the cut and pasted designs for Jazz in 1943-44 and the book was published in September 1947 as a folio of 20 color plates.  The subject matter of Jazz is drawn largely from the circus, the music hall, folklore and travel.

Matisse Le Tobogan