SEEING MATISSE DIFFERENTLY
Friday and Saturday when I had gone past the Beaubourg, there had been no queues for the Matisse exhibition which opened last week. So I thought on Monday there would be no-one. Exhibitions are rather like the traffic today. One never knows when there are going to be jams even if the hour is chosen carefully.
With my card I left the long line outside and went up to the 6th floor. At least from there, the view of Paris is always an exhibition in itself.
197 people were inside but it was not overcrowded. Also I tend to go «my way» rather than following a chronological order.
I am not a great Matisse fan but this exhibition was of interest to me as it was based on «Pairs and Series». Perhaps forgettable that themes were the very heart of his work from the beginning to the end. (1869-1954). It’s not often that you see this repetition placed together and the way he explored his work. Looking at the different themes I found that he was questioning himself - advancing, taking photos, repeating, changing and then finalizing. There were 60 paintings displayed along with the very well known «papiers découpés» . How often have we seen them? And yet, this time I looked at them together for the «first time». Or rather, it was the first time that I saw that the 3rd version really different from the others. Four in all.
Perhaps though it was not the repetition that fascinated me. I found myself alone infront of four paintings as they were not part of themes or had not been repeated as such.
«View From Notre Dame» 1914 was placed next to a well known painting of Notre Dame. But there was no likeness and the painting for me was a mystery. Where was the view? What was it?
On then to «Tête Blanche and Rose» - I was pretty convinced that I had seen it as another colour in the exhibition. But this was the colour of the postcard and in the small catalogue I purchased. Cubism and yet late for that period as done in 1914-1915. Both sides of the face were looking at me in a different manner. One smiling, one questioning. I stood there for a long time but did not get an answer.
"The Violinist at the
Window» in 1918. Standing alone next to other well known paintings which
were impossible to see because of the crowd. What was he playing.
Romantic as he looked across the bay in Nice?
And then «The Dream» in 1940. Arms draped around her body. The patterns on the sleeves, predominate and yet her face is so serene.
Sometimes I go back to see exhibitions a second, third or fourth time - I would for these four paintings and perhaps one or two others....
With my card I left the long line outside and went up to the 6th floor. At least from there, the view of Paris is always an exhibition in itself.
 |
| Outiside the Beaubourg |
197 people were inside but it was not overcrowded. Also I tend to go «my way» rather than following a chronological order.
I am not a great Matisse fan but this exhibition was of interest to me as it was based on «Pairs and Series». Perhaps forgettable that themes were the very heart of his work from the beginning to the end. (1869-1954). It’s not often that you see this repetition placed together and the way he explored his work. Looking at the different themes I found that he was questioning himself - advancing, taking photos, repeating, changing and then finalizing. There were 60 paintings displayed along with the very well known «papiers découpés» . How often have we seen them? And yet, this time I looked at them together for the «first time». Or rather, it was the first time that I saw that the 3rd version really different from the others. Four in all.
Perhaps though it was not the repetition that fascinated me. I found myself alone infront of four paintings as they were not part of themes or had not been repeated as such.
 |
| Vue de Notre Dame 1914 |
«View From Notre Dame» 1914 was placed next to a well known painting of Notre Dame. But there was no likeness and the painting for me was a mystery. Where was the view? What was it?
 |
| Tete Blanche et Rose 1914-1915 |
 |
| Le Violiniste 1918 |
 |
| Le Rêve 1940 |
And then «The Dream» in 1940. Arms draped around her body. The patterns on the sleeves, predominate and yet her face is so serene.
Sometimes I go back to see exhibitions a second, third or fourth time - I would for these four paintings and perhaps one or two others....
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