Temporary exhibition

Henri Matisse, who was considered by Pablo Picasso as his main rival but nevertheless his friend, was a painter, illustrator, sculptor and leading light of fauvism.

His works are exhibited in the most highly renowned museums in the four corners of the earth. The temporary exhibition at the Site Oud Sint-Jan depicts the career of Henri Matisse, but especially his friendship with the publisher Tériade. The route shows lithographs made using gouaches cut by Henri Matisse.

In January 1941, at the age of 72, he underwent an operation in Lyon, which led to serious complications. Against all expectation, Matisse survived. The after effects meant he was obliged to wear an iron corset and spend most of the time lying down. Matisse believed his survival was a miracle and that he had been given a second chance. He went on to devote his last years to putting the finishing touches to his life’s work, expressing himself almost exclusively through the format of cut gouaches.

These works were created for the Verve review, published by Tériade.