Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs
"The Fall of Icarus (La Chute d'Icare)," 1943, by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, and pins.
In the last years of his life, Matisse - one of the most famous painters in the world - all but gave up painting for huge, colorful collages made out of cut paper.
His magnificent creations are now the centerpiece of a new show at New York's Museum of Modern Art, "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs."
Two Dancers (Deux danseurs)
Henri Matisse's "Two Dancers (Deux danseurs)," 1937-38. Stage curtain design for the ballet "Rouge et Noir."
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, notebook papers, pencil, and thumbtacks.
The Clown (Le Clown)
In 1943 Matisse was commissioned to produce a book called "Jazz." He used cut paper to compose each of the book's 20 plates. Matisse liked the look of the stuck-on bits of cut paper, but when the book was printed, all the texture was lost.
Suddenly, he realized cut-outs could be a new art form.
Left: Henri Matisse's "The Clown (Le Clown)," 1943. Maquette for plate I from the illustrated book, "Jazz" (1947). Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, mounted on canvas.
The Master
Henri Matisse. photographed at Villa le Rêve in Vence, c. 1946-47.
Composition, Black and Red (Composition, noir et rouge)
"Composition, Black and Red (Composition, noir et rouge)," 1947, by Henri Matisse. Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
When asked about cutting colored paper with scissors - something children do - Museum of Modern Art curator Jodi Hauptman told CBS News' Martha Teichner, "What he's doing is reducing form to its essentials, and that's one of his great achievements."
The Cut-Outs
Henri Matisse, in an undated photograph, cuts pieces of colored paper at his Nice studio.
Curator Jodi Hauptman said Matisse described the cut-outs as "drawing with scissors," or "carving into color," like a sculpture.
Two Masks (The Tomato)
"Two Masks (The Tomato) (Deux Masques [La Tomate])," 1947, by Henri Matisse.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
Panel with Mask (Le Panneau au masque)
Henri Matisse's "Panel with Mask (Le Panneau au masque)," 1947.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
The Master
A portrait of artist Henri Matisse in the Chapel of the Rosary (Chapelle du Rosaire), which he designed, in Vence, France. The tiles on the wall depict Stations of the Cross.
Pale Blue Window (Vitrail bleu pâle)
Second maquette for the apse window for the Chapel of the Rosary, Vence.
The two-part panel, "Pale Blue Window (Vitrail bleu pâle)" (November 1948-January 1949), is made of gouache on paper, cut and pasted, on kraft paper, mounted on canvas.
Maquette for Red Chasuble (front)
Henri Matisse's "Maquette for Red Chasuble" (front), late 1950-52.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
Zulma
Henri Matisse's "Zulma," early 1950. Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
"Matisse, His Art and His Public"
Cover maquette for the book, "Matisse, His Art and His Public," 1951.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted.
Nuit de Noël
"Nuit de Noël," 1952, by Henri Matisse.
Maquette for stained-glass window. Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, mounted on board.
The Sheaf (La Gerbe)
Henri Matisse's "The Sheaf (La Gerbe)," 1953. Maquette for ceramic (realized 1953).
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, on paper, mounted on canvas.
Memory of Oceania (Souvenir d'Océanie)
Henri Matisse's "Memory of Oceania (Souvenir d'Océanie)," summer 1952-early 1953.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, and charcoal on paper, mounted on canvas.
Color Squares
Henri Matisse, in an undated photograph, in front of gouache-painted papers at the Hôtel Régina in Nice.
Interior
Hôtel Régina, Nice, 1953.
The Swimming Pool (La Piscine)
Two of nine panels of Henri Matisse's "The Swimming Pool (La Piscine)," 1952.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, on painted paper, on burlap-covered walls 136" high. Overall 73" x 647".
Large Decoration with Masks
Henri Matisse's "Large Decoration with Masks (Grande Décoration aux Masques)," 1953.
Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, and ink on white paper, mounted on canvas.
MoMA Exhibition
A major new show, "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs," is now on exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
MoMA Exhibition
A view of "Blue Nudes" in the exhibit, "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs."
MoMA Exhibition
A view of Matisse's "The Swimming Pool" (1952), as installed in the Museum of Modern Art exhibition, "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs."
"Henry Matisse: The Cut-Outs"
The exhibition catalogue, "Henry Matisse: The Cut-Outs," edited by Karl Buchberg, Nicholas Cullinan, Jodi Hauptman and Nicholas Serota, is available from the Museum of Modern Art.
For more info:
"Henry Matisse: The Cut-Outs" at MoMA, New York (exhibition extended through February 10, 2015)
By CBS News.com senior producer David Morgan