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Henri Matisse: A Second Life
Henri Matisse by Alastair Sooke is an essential guide to one of the 20th century's greatest artists
"One January morning in 1941, only a fortnight or so after his seventy-first birthday, the bearded and bespectacled French artist Henri Matisse was lying in a hospital bed preparing to die." Diagnosed with cancer, the acclaimed painter, and rival of Picasso, seemed to be facing his demise. Then something unexpected happened. After a life-saving operation that left him too weak to paint, and often too frail to even get out of bed, Matisse invented a ground-breaking and effortless new way of making art. The results rank among his greatest work. In an astonishing blaze of creativity, he began conjuring mesmerizing designs of dazzling dancers and thrilling tightrope walkers, sensuous swimmers and mythical figures falling from the heavens. His joyful and unprecedented new works were as spontaneous as jazz music and as wondrous as crystal-clear lagoons. Their medium? Coloured paper and scissors. This book, by art critic and broadcaster Alastair Sooke, focuses on Matisse's extraordinary final decade, which he called "a second life," after he had returned from the grave. Both a biography and a guide to Matisse's "cut-outs," it tells the story of the valedictory flourish of one of the most important and beloved artists of the 20th century. Published in time for a major Tate Modern retrospective.
"One January morning in 1941, only a fortnight or so after his seventy-first birthday, the bearded and bespectacled French artist Henri Matisse was lying in a hospital bed preparing to die." Diagnosed with cancer, the acclaimed painter, and rival of Picasso, seemed to be facing his demise. Then something unexpected happened. After a life-saving operation that left him too weak to paint, and often too frail to even get out of bed, Matisse invented a ground-breaking and effortless new way of making art. The results rank among his greatest work. In an astonishing blaze of creativity, he began conjuring mesmerizing designs of dazzling dancers and thrilling tightrope walkers, sensuous swimmers and mythical figures falling from the heavens. His joyful and unprecedented new works were as spontaneous as jazz music and as wondrous as crystal-clear lagoons. Their medium? Coloured paper and scissors. This book, by art critic and broadcaster Alastair Sooke, focuses on Matisse's extraordinary final decade, which he called "a second life," after he had returned from the grave. Both a biography and a guide to Matisse's "cut-outs," it tells the story of the valedictory flourish of one of the most important and beloved artists of the 20th century. Published in time for a major Tate Modern retrospective.
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 18, 2014
Sooke has produced a well informed and very readable companion to the Tate exhibition which gives a vibrant background to the artist in the last stages of his life. It is by no means a comprehensive biography,but it is an excellent resource for those looking for a little more insight to Matisse and his Cut-outs.
March 19, 2025
lihtne ja ilus nagu Matisse’ enda kunst
March 23, 2018
Alastair Sooke gives a real insight in Heni Matisse's work and second life after his operation. He ddescribes his work quite thoroughly and you see the works in front of you while reading.
I saw the exhibition in 2014 in Tates, but I don't think it is necessary to have seen it to appreciate this book. Besides, it has been 4 years for me since I saw it before I read this book.
If you have seen some of Matisse's work and know a bit about it, you will get what Sooke describes. Although it does help to have seen quite some. But one can always look them up while reading. But make sure you see as much of his work as possible in real life! Its rewarding.
I saw the exhibition in 2014 in Tates, but I don't think it is necessary to have seen it to appreciate this book. Besides, it has been 4 years for me since I saw it before I read this book.
If you have seen some of Matisse's work and know a bit about it, you will get what Sooke describes. Although it does help to have seen quite some. But one can always look them up while reading. But make sure you see as much of his work as possible in real life! Its rewarding.
March 16, 2019
Subject matter: five stars - the last period of a great artist. It was a delight to google and see the wonderful works Matisse still produced in his eighties, very comforting for someone approaching old age like me.
Writing: two stars. Badly organised, repetitive. This booklet was published to coincide with major exhibitions in London and New York and it is hard to escape the feeling that more time should have been taken over it.
Writing: two stars. Badly organised, repetitive. This booklet was published to coincide with major exhibitions in London and New York and it is hard to escape the feeling that more time should have been taken over it.
September 16, 2018
i like when picasso is notably mentioned as the prick he is
December 23, 2021
Interesting, Concise account of (a period ) of the subjects life.
August 4, 2020
A terrific little, bite size book about Matisse’s career in later life when he worked on his famous cut-outs. At a 113 pages it’s a perfect read to dig deeper into a prolific part of Matisse’s late career when he was bed ridden after an operation that removed cancer within his intestines. Author Alastair Sooke, art critic does a terrific job describing some of Matisse’s most famous cut-outs, including his famous Blue Nude series and another, which is my favorite The Parakeet and the Mermaid (1952). Having my iPad handy while reading was essential to getting the most out of this book.
Matisse was a true genius. Here’s a man in the late stages of his life in his eighties, sick, confined to a wheelchair, who can’t paint, yet he is using large pairs of scissors and large sheets of coloured paper and wall space to create enormous murals on his walls, and at times, a long stick with charcoal to draw. In one instance Matisse describes how he wasn’t able to go out into the garden, so he created his own in his studio, with large colourful leaves suffused with ‘white atmosphere’ (his words). Matisse: “You see, as I am obliged to remain often in bed because of the state of my health, I have made a little garden all around me where I can walk…There are leaves, fruits and birds.” (91).
Matisse also worked during this phase in his career on designing the interior of a small chapel in Vence France, the Chapel of Rosary. Matisse embraced this project stating it was a “culmination of a lifetime of work”. His cut-outs designs were used for the stained glass windows, the floor patterns and even design on the crucifix within the church. Sooke writes how Picasso, who more of an artistic rival than friend, was very critical of Matisse wasting his energy on such a project, and suggested he decorate a covered market instead, where he could “paint fruit and vegetables” (59). Most likely Picasso was intensely jealous.
I loved this little book published by Penguin Books. It has the vintage Penguin Book design for its cover, which I love almost as much as the story about Matisse.
Here’s a link from the MoMa with some images of Matisse creating his cutouts and a description of his process.
Matisse was a true genius. Here’s a man in the late stages of his life in his eighties, sick, confined to a wheelchair, who can’t paint, yet he is using large pairs of scissors and large sheets of coloured paper and wall space to create enormous murals on his walls, and at times, a long stick with charcoal to draw. In one instance Matisse describes how he wasn’t able to go out into the garden, so he created his own in his studio, with large colourful leaves suffused with ‘white atmosphere’ (his words). Matisse: “You see, as I am obliged to remain often in bed because of the state of my health, I have made a little garden all around me where I can walk…There are leaves, fruits and birds.” (91).
Matisse also worked during this phase in his career on designing the interior of a small chapel in Vence France, the Chapel of Rosary. Matisse embraced this project stating it was a “culmination of a lifetime of work”. His cut-outs designs were used for the stained glass windows, the floor patterns and even design on the crucifix within the church. Sooke writes how Picasso, who more of an artistic rival than friend, was very critical of Matisse wasting his energy on such a project, and suggested he decorate a covered market instead, where he could “paint fruit and vegetables” (59). Most likely Picasso was intensely jealous.
I loved this little book published by Penguin Books. It has the vintage Penguin Book design for its cover, which I love almost as much as the story about Matisse.
Here’s a link from the MoMa with some images of Matisse creating his cutouts and a description of his process.
April 24, 2018
5* for how much i enjoyed it and the content
3* for the writing itself
3* for the writing itself
April 8, 2016
Alastair Sooke has presented many TV arts programmes. About Matisse's later life, personal and professional - he nearly died and daughter encouraged him to have the operation - hence "A Second Life" subtitle. Later she told him about her experiences under torture, she and her mother being in the French Resistance. He was recuperating and still very ill during the war. A whole chapter is devoted to the Rosary Chapel. Sadly my visit there was hugely disappointing- the serenity of the chapel ruined by a large French tour party with very loud guide. The Director of the Tate draws a parallel to the Sistine Chapel! Sooke gives great insight into the works of art and why Matisse is one the greatest and influential artists.
December 31, 2014
The Matisse cut-outs was my favourite exhibition this year. This was an interesting quick read about the 'making of' - his second life after narrowly escaping death.
Difficult to get the full impact of the text without accompanying colour plates. I'll have to reread when I have more time and full internet access to bring up the works as I read.
Best bits - 'The fugitive nature of memory'.
The fact that a chronically sick, 82 year old man was making works as joyous and colourful as these.
The interesting observation about Matisse's love and interest in textiles and the role Polynesia tifaifai applique bedspreads had on his work.
Difficult to get the full impact of the text without accompanying colour plates. I'll have to reread when I have more time and full internet access to bring up the works as I read.
Best bits - 'The fugitive nature of memory'.
The fact that a chronically sick, 82 year old man was making works as joyous and colourful as these.
The interesting observation about Matisse's love and interest in textiles and the role Polynesia tifaifai applique bedspreads had on his work.
April 18, 2014
I read this in preparation for visiting Tate Modern's Matisse Cut Outs exhibition. It's a quick read, although comprehensive. Enthusiastic and engaging, Sooke strongly evokes the poignant contrast between the frail, physically declining Matisse and and triumphant creativity of his last decade. The book is very good on the context and chronology of the works, with interesting discussions of their sources, making, and outside influence. There are amusing insights into Matisse's friendly rivalry with Picasso.
September 1, 2014
A short book, neatly written and covering the latter years of Matisse's life. Very timely considering the exhibition of his cutouts at the Tate. It's an easy one to pick up and read in a snatched few minutes and small enough to carry round in a handbag for such moments!
Prepared me well for the Cutouts exhibition at the Tate as well.
Prepared me well for the Cutouts exhibition at the Tate as well.
July 3, 2015
A satisfying account of Matisse's last year's, with a good deal of close examination of the works themselves. A major problem is the paperback format with no illustrations, which makes it absolutely necessary to read the book with another book (or smartphone) to hand in order to look at the pictures.
May 7, 2015
A nice little follow up to the Matisse exhibit in NYC. Inspiring to read how he allowed his creativity to come out in a different way in his final years.
May 10, 2014
A short, clear journey through Matisse's cut outs. Thoroughly enjoyable.
December 6, 2014
Very interesting, especially after a fantastic trip to see his cut outs at the MOMA.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews