Matisse: The Red Studio

In The Red Studio (1911), Matisse depicts his own workspace, complete with the paintings, sculptures and ceramics that kept him company. For the first time, this exhibition at MoMA (1 May–10 September) reunites the painting with the objects it shows. Eleven paintings, six pieces of furniture, and a small collection of objects are shown in the Red Studio; among the paintings are some of Matisse’s most recognisable works, such as Le Luxe II (1907–8), Bathers (1907) and Nude with White Scarf (1909). The show also looks at how Matisse went about creating the Red Studio, displaying archive photographs and letters including enlightening correspondence between Matisse and his patron Sergei Shchukin, who commissioned the painting but ultimately opted not to buy it. Find out more on MoMA’s website.

Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here 

Bathers (1907), Henri Matisse. National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen; © 2022 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Le Luxe II (c. 1907–8), Henri Matisse. National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen; © 2022 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Nude with a White Scarf (1909), Henri Matisse. National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen; © 2022 Succession H. Matisse/ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

The Red Studio (1911), Henri Matisse. Museum of Modern Art, New York; © 2022 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York