Matisse: In 50 Works

This fascinating and comprehensive new book on Henri Matisse opens a window of enlightenment for all students and art lovers interested in early 20th-century art.

John Cauman has selected fifty of Matisse's most iconic artworks, using an accessible narrative style to unravel the life and work of this great artist, delving into the themes, techniques, and intentions behind his creations.

The book chronologically covers works from the late 19th century to the mid-1950s. Each painting, drawing, and mural is described and analyzed with exquisite detail and placed within its historical context, allowing readers to truly understand the artist's intended meaning in each piece. An introductory essay provides a broader perspective by introducing the historical context and key figures in Matisse's life.

Notable works included in the book are Luxe, calme et volupté (1904), Le Bonheur de vivre (1905-6), Self-Portrait in a Striped Shirt (1906), Blue Nude (Memory of Biskra) (1907), Bathers by a River (1909-17), Harmony in Red (1908), Dance I (1909), Entrance to the Casbah (1912-13), Pianist a...), among others.