Matisse in Tahiti

by Paule Laudon

In 1930, aged 60, Henri Matisse travelled to Tahiti on a steamer from San Francisco. His passion for the work of Paul Gauguin, the great French painter who had abandoned France for Tahiti in the late nineteenth century, led Matisse to follow Gauguin's footsteps and to discover for himself the new forms, the amazing light and colors of Oceania. Matisse lived like Robinson Crusoe, strode the streets of Papeete at the break of dawn, canoed, swam and idved amongst the coral, fish and shells. All the while he drew prodigiously, wrote letters, and took photographs, many of which have never before been published. A careful observer of the sea, the sky, unknown nature, the intricate levels, and Polynesians, whom he compares to sea gods, Matisse absorbed the light of the "purity that gives so much sparkle to colors". The trip had a profound and lasting influence on his work, particularly the late gouache cut-outs; this book gives the reader an intensely personal insight into the mind of Matisse in Tahiti.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, especially if you already know about the life and work of Matisse as it assumes you do. The author discusses this relatively brief time in and near Tahiti. Drawing on letters and photos by Matisse, the author gives us a unique view of his day by day reactions and impressions. As his work is so beautiful, so full of life and color, I enjoyed identifying with him as a sometimes gray traveler - upset with the Captain who decided speed, predawn arrival, more import than Matisse's imagined arrival at colors of sunrise, sometimes bored, sometimes lonely.

The most interesting part for me was that he did only one painting while there and how many years later he used the themes, his sketches for his paintings, collages and the chapel at Vence. Having seen most of these works in France, I was fascinated to learn more about their roots and Matisse's feelings and experiences exploring them and producing a series of work unlike his earlier work.

In these tight budget days, I was delighted that my local library had this book.