During the last fifteen years of his life, Henri Matisse developed his final artistic triumph by "cutting into color." The drama, scale, and innovation of Matisse's rare and fragile papiers coupes (paper cutouts) remain without precedent or parallel. His technique involved the freehand cutting of colored papers into beautiful shapes, which he then pinned loosely to the white studio walls, later adjusting, recutting, combining, and recombining them to his satisfaction. The result created an environment that transcended the boundaries of conventional painting, drawing, and sculpture. Later, the shapes were glued to large white paper backgrounds for shipping or display. This group of cutouts represents one of the largest concentrations of these important works worldwide.
16 note cards and envelopes, 4 each of 4 images: Madame de Pompadour reçoit le Mardi 20 Novembre 1951 au Pavillon de Marsan á 22 heures, 1952; Danseuse créole, 1950; The Codomas, plate XI from the illustrated book Jazz, 1947; The King’s Sadness (La Tristesse du roi), 1952.
