Matisse

Henri Matisse spent his career taking apart his own way of working and starting again, and this volume in The Bigger Picture series follows that process through large-scale reproductions. Dozens of paintings and cut-outs are shown at a size that does justice to the clarity and richness of his art, giving a sweeping view of one of the most influential figures in modern art. The book moves through the stages of his development: the early naturalist studies, the luminous intensity of Fauvism, and the radical simplicity of the paper cut-outs of his final years. Along the way it traces how his handling of form, color and composition kept shifting. About fifty emblematic works each come with a short essay that sheds light on his changing techniques and the circumstances in which he painted. Six fold-out spreads present some of his most famous pieces, and the essays run through the whole structure of the book rather than sitting apart from the images. The result is a vivid, layered portrait for readers who want to look closely at the choices that shaped a career of continual renewal. It is also made as a gift object, with a printed cloth binding and sprayed edges.