Intimate Matisse

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Henri Matisse (1869-1954) considered his drawing to be a very intimate means of expression - the "purest" and "most direct". Frequently his compositions are romantic, sometimes erotic images of the female form, but he also drew flowers and animals, sometimes drawing with a pencil, sometimes with charcoal, crayon, etcher's burin or cut paper. This guide is a showcase for Matisse's drawings in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia. An introduction reveals his love of poetry, his interest in classical themes and passion for medieval manuscripts. The main section of the work is a catalogue of the drawings, with quotes from the poems they illustrate reproduced opposite the images.