
The work of Henri Matisse has been both a profound inspiration to his successors and a source of infinite enjoyment to all who love art. Yet the apparent spontaneity of his color and ease of imagery were the fruit of a lifetime's arduous labor; the simplicity of his compositions...


This richly illustrated book draws upon Lawrence Gowing's earlier writings on Matisse, including a study described by Albert Elsen as 'one of the finest, most perceptive and inspired essays' on the subject.

Examines Matisse's impact on modern art as well as examining his career, techniques, aesthetics, and stages of artistic development.


This richly illustrated book draws upon Lawrence Gowing's earlier writings on Matisse, including a study described by Albert Elsen as 'one of the finest, most perceptive and inspired essays' on the subject.