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Matisse: Radical Invention

A spectacular exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago retraces Henri Matisse’s radical reinvention as a modernist master, and the painting that changed his career. VIEW OUR GALLERY.

Published Mar. 30 2010 11:31AM EDT

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---goldfish-and-palette_a90coc — The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift and bequest of Florene M. Schoenborn and Samuel A. Marx, 1964. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---goldfish-and-palette_qoynzl — Oil on canvas, 146.5 x 112.4 cm (57 3/4 x 44 1/4 in.)
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift and bequest of Florene M. Schoenborn and Samuel A. Marx, 1964. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---apples_ngp855 — Oil on canvas, 116.9 x 88.9 cm (46 x 35 in.)
The Art Institute of Chicago, gift of Florene May Schoenborn and Samuel A. Marx, 1948.563. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---piano-lesson_jjbozf — Oil on canvas, 245.1 x 212.7 cm (96 1/2 x 83 3/4 in.)
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund, 1946. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---eva-mudocci_kkveqt — Graphite on three pieces of paper, mounted to canvas, 92.7 x 71.1 cm (36 1/2 x 28 in.)
Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Pierre and Maria-Gaetana Matisse Collection, 2002, 2002.456.41. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---italian-woman_cpxamz — Oil on canvas, 116.7 x 89.5 cm (45 15/16 x 35 1/4 in.)
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, by exchange, 1982, 82.2946. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---sunlight_gxhsnm — Oil on canvas, 91 x 74 cm (36 x 29 1/8 in.)
Private collection. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---window_hzpem4 — Oil on canvas, 146.1 x 116.8 cm (57 1/2 x 46 in.)
The Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 22.14. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---moroccans_megsng — Oil on canvas, 181.3 x 279.4 cm (71 3/8 x 110 in.)
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Marx, 1955. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---portrait-of-yvonne_ikaah4 — Oil on canvas, 147.3 x 97.5 cm (58 x 38 3/8 in.)
Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950, 1950-134-130. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---interior-with-goldfish_kteaf9 — Oil on canvas, 147 x 97 cm (57 7/8 x 38 1/8 in.)
Musée National d'Art Moderne/Centre de Création Industrielle, Centre Pompidou, Paris, bequest of Baroness Eva Gourgaud, 1965, AM 4311 P. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---flowers-and-ceramic-plate_pxonk1 — Oil on canvas, 93.5 x 82.5 cm (36 1/4 x 32 1/2 in.)
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, SG 1213. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---bathers-with-a-turtle_tegyca — Oil on canvas, 179.1 x 220.3 cm (70 1/2 x 87 3/4 in.)
Saint Louis Art Museum, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer Jr., 24:1964. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---le-luxe-ii_e4pcje — Distemper on canvas, 209.5 x 138 cm (82 1/2 x 54 3/8 in.)
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, KMSr76. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---blue-nude_muq3jv — 92.1 x 140.4 cm (36 1/4 x 55 1/4 in.)
The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Cone Collection, BMA 1950.228. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---bathers-by-a-river_iabz6z — Oil on canvas, 260 x 392 cm (102 1/2 x 154 3/16 in.)
The Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection, 1953.158. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---photo-2_d9t257 — Alvin Langdon Coburn (British, 1882-1966). Henri Matisse working from Back (II) to Back (III), May 13, 1913.
Courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester

galleries/2010/03/30/matisse-radical-invention/art-beast---matisse---photo-1_gunom2 — Alvin Langdon Coburn (British, 1882-1966). Henri Matisse painting Bathers by a River, May 13, 1913.
Courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester