Matisse: The Artist Speaks

Rating:
Summary: Very brief
Review: This book offers a brief view of Matisse's varied ouvre: paintings, drawings, and cutouts, covering several decades of his lifeer. Each two-page spread shows a new piece, well printed, together with at least one quote from the artist's writings or interviews.

"Brief" is the key word, though. There are only a few dozen of his works here. The quotations are nearly all one-sentence sound bites, cut loose from the context that gave them their original meanings. What's even more confusing is that, although the pictures are in time order, the quotations are not. In fact, very few quotations have anything to do with the pictures they accompany, except in the compiler's mind.

Anyone unfamiliar with Matisse will find this a brief, digestible introduction. The afficionado will be disappointed.