John Klein (2)

Matisse Portraits is a serious discussion with extensive text of the artist’s work in that genre, which in this instance includes self-portraiture and family groups. Following the Introduction the book is divided into seven chapters. Firstly the writer explores “the problems posed by portraiture of other individuals to an artist who was resolute that the goal of his work was self-expression”. The next three chapters concern themselves with the move from private to public self-expression: Chapter 2 deals with Matisse’s early portraits; Chapter 3 with portraits of is family and how he manages the treatment of those with whom he has close emotional ties; Chapter 4 with portraiture beyond the immediate family but not yet public, those who were sympathetic to his efforts.

Chapters 4 and 5 consider the public aspect of his portraiture and self-portraiture; firstly his patronage and portrait commission, then the artist’s self-portraiture at a time when he achieved a level of fame. The final Chapter the writer considers “the phenomenon of the portrait-like depiction of a hired model in Matisse’s work in answer to the problems that portraiture’s social dimension posed”.

The book closes with a section under the heading “Conclusion Signing Off: The End of the Portrait”. There are extensive Notes; a Select Bibliography; and an Index.

This is a scholarly yet very readable study; the writer discusses Matisse’s work at length, and the individual paintings in detail, drawing comparisons, occasionally with the work of other artists.

It is illustrated throughout with around 200 illustrations, the vast majority in full colour; those in black and white are mostly monotone drawings. The images vary in size and include the quite small, but there are many good sized pictures of a quarter, half or full-page, with a few full-page bleed images, invariable of a detail from a painting. The images run with the text and most usefully appear alongside the relevant passages.

This is an impressive well laid-out book printed on quality paper; a most handsome volume.… (meer)