1. Henri Matisse, Composition à La Croix rouge (Composition with Red Cross), 1947, Gouache on paper, cut and pasted on paper, 74 x 52,4 cm, Private collection © Succession H.Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Robert Bayer
Henri Matisse is one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. While it has long been synonymous with vibrant color, bold form, and a visionary approach to modern art, the Fondation Beyeler’s exhibition will offer a rare opportunity to the public to depth into his creative work, and especially the one made in conjunction with his trips.
From his early Fauvist works made along the sea, to the cut-outs of his later years, this retrospective traces Matisse’s artistic journey while exploring the profound influence of travel, light, and poetry on his work. Anchored by Charles Baudelaire’s evocative poem Invitation to the Voyage, the exhibition invites visitors to embark on a sensory and emotional exploration of beauty, harmony, and artistic innovation.
Curated by Raphaël Bouvier (in-house curator) this retrospective celebrates the life and work of Henri Matisse, and especially the one created during his trips. The exhibition is significant not only because it is the first major Matisse retrospective in Switzerland and the German-speaking world in nearly two decades but also because it brings together over 70 works from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Centre Pompidou, MoMA, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
The exhibition trace Matisse’s artistic journey from his early works (around 1900) to his late paper cut-outs from the 1940s and 1950s. These works showcase Matisse’s groundbreaking techniques, from his Fauvist experimentation with bold, unrestrained color to his later simplification of forms that elevated his art to a meditative, almost sculptural realm.
What sets this exhibition apart is its thematic framing around Charles Baudelaire’s poem Invitation to the Voyage. By connecting Matisse’s art with Baudelaire’s themes of luxury, tranquility, and pleasure, the exhibition provides a new lens through which to interpret his work. A multimedia section enriches the experience, featuring historical photographs, films, and documentation of Matisse’s creative processes. These elements not only contextualize the artworks but also offer visitors a glimpse into Matisse’s studio environments and the pivotal role travel played in shaping his vision.
The poetic lens of Baudelaire's
"Invitation to the Voyage"
2. Henri Matisse, Luxe, Calme et Volupté, 1904, Oil on canvas, 98,5 x 118,5 cm, Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, dation, 1982, on loan to the Musée d'Orsay, 1985 © Succession H.Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski
Baudelaire’s Invitation to the Voyage serves as a conceptual anchor for the exhibition. This 1857 poem from Les Fleurs du Mal envisions an idyllic journey to a land of sensual beauty, rich with colors and textures. Its central refrain, “Luxe, calme et volupté,” encapsulates a harmonious interplay of luxury, tranquility, and sensuality—qualities that resonate profoundly in Matisse’s art.
For Matisse, the poem’s themes echoed his lifelong fascination with the interplay between interior and exterior spaces, both physical and psychological. In works such as The Open Window, Collioure and Goldfish and Sculpture, Matisse employs the motif of the open window to symbolize the coexistence of intimacy and expansiveness. These paintings invite viewers to imagine themselves as participants in a serene, light-filled world where boundaries dissolve.
Baudelaire’s emphasis on imagination and aesthetic mirrors Matisse’s approach to art as a vehicle for emotional and sensory exploration. Like the poet, Matisse transcends geographic to create universal visions of harmony and delight. The Fondation Beyeler’s thematic pairing of these two visionaries enriches our understanding of Matisse’s artistic philosophy, underscoring the poetic undercurrents that flow through his work.
Matisses's travels and artistic evolution
3. Henri Matisse, Intérieur, Bocal de poissons rouges, 1914, Oil on canvas, 147 x 97 cm, Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, bequest of Baronne Eva Gourgaud, 1965 © Succession H.Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Philippe Migeatigeat
Henri Matisse’s travels were not merely physical journeys but profound sources of artistic transformation. Born in northern France, Matisse’s early works reflect a subdued palette influenced by the overcast skies of his homeland. It was only after his discovery of the vibrant Mediterranean light in Collioure in 1905 that he fully embraced the bold, expressive use of color that would define Fauvism.
Matisse’s voyage took him far beyond Europe. His visits to Morocco in 1912–1913 introduced him to new approaches to light, pattern, and spatial composition, as seen in works like Interior with Egyptian Curtain (1948). The simplicity and vibrancy of North African art influenced his decorative motifs and his ability to distill complex visual experiences into elemental forms.
Later, Matisse traveled to the United States, Russia, and Tahiti, each destination leaving a distinct imprint on his art. In Russia, he encountered Orthodox icons and folk art, which deepened his appreciation for flat, decorative surfaces. In Tahiti, the lush landscapes and vivid natural colors inspired a sense of serenity that would carry into his later works.
Despite his frequent travels, Matisse’s studio remained a crucial space for reflection and creation. The motif of the open window, a recurring theme in his work, symbolizes the dialogue between his interior creative process and the external world. This dialogue reached its zenith in his paper cut-outs, where Matisse synthesized his experiences of light, color, and movement into a wholly original medium.
Matisse – Invitation to the Voyage is more than a retrospective; it is a celebration of artistic exploration and innovation. By linking Matisse’s work with Baudelaire’s poetic vision, the Fondation Beyeler has created an exhibition that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. This journey through Matisse’s life and art reaffirms his enduring legacy as a master of modernism and a pioneer of color, form, and light.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: Fondation Beyeler
Date: 22.9.2024 - 26.1.2024
Curators: Raphaël Bouvier
Ticket: Available online OR at the front desk of the museum
Informations about the Fondation Beyeler
Baselstrasse 101
CH-4125 Riehen/Basel
Phone: +41 61 645 97 00
Fax: +41 61 645 97 19
Mail: info@fondationbeyeler.ch