A fascinating introduction to the life and work of Henri Matisse, a leading artist of the modern age whose radical and innovative techniques demonstrate his lifelong commitment to celebrating dynamic forms and bold, expressive colour.

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a leading figure in early twentieth-century modern art and one of the most significant colourists of all time. In a prolific career that spanned over half a century, he created a large and diverse body of work, encompassing drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and the decorative arts.

This concise book is a captivating introduction to the life and work of this remarkable artist. It contextualises Matisse’s career from his informal training in Paris to his early study of the impressionists, and the pivotal point when he created his first fauvist painting, marking his singular interest in experimenting with flatness of colour, simple shapes and sinuous loose lines. Highlighting the artist’s revolutionary technique with paper cutouts, which became his chosen medium after ill health confined him to bed and prevented him from painting, this book demonstrates the relentless passion and incredible creative drive of a modern master.