Jazz
Not on view
Consisting in a portfolio book of 20 plates illustrating abstract compositions, inspired by the circus, ballet and historical events, "Jazz" is considered the culminating masterpiece of Henri Matisse as a graphic artist, reflecting his deeper and more experimental involvement with printmaking and cut-outs ('papier découpés'). Alongside with Matisse, the other mind behind the production of this seminal work was Thériade (Stratis Eleftheriadis), the publisher who worked with the artists before on the "Poésies by Stéphane Mallarmé" (Lausanne, 1932; The Reva and David Logan Collection of Illustrated Books, 2000.200.71.1-29), and "Lettres Portugaises" by Marianna Alcaforado (Paris, 1946; Gift of the Reva and David Logan Foundation, 1998.40.90.1-80). The stencil technique used in "Jazz", known as pochoir, was also a labor-intensive process that was entrusted to Edmond Vairel, who produced stencils painted with the same vibrant gouaches used by Matisse. The artist's handwritten thoughts and poetry notes on the process are then added in between the plates to evoke the sense of a musical rhythm and repetition.
- Artist
- Henri Matisse
- Publisher
- Tériade Éditeur
- Printer
- Edmond Vairel
- Title
- Jazz
- Date
- 1947
- Object Type
- (not assigned)
- Medium
- Portfolio with twenty pochoirs printed in colors on Arches wove paper, including an original portfolio with the table of images and text.
- Dimensions
- Each: 25 1/2 x 16 3/4 in. (64.77 x 42.545 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum purchase, Gift of Margaret and William R. Hearst III
- Accession Number
- 2024.34.1-20