Matisse and the Joy of Drawing

by Christopher Lloyd (Author)

An internationally recognized expert in the European tradition of draughtsmanship, Christopher Lloyd offers rare insights about the technical qualities of Matisse’s drawings. This book traces the evolution of Matisse’s large and varied body of drawings and works on paper—including graphic work, the celebrated cut-outs and the famous decoration of the Chapel of the Rosary at Vence, France. 

The artist’s drawings are contextualized within his own biography and times, from vibrant early twentieth-century Paris to later periods in luxurious Nice. Lively prose and a wealth of reproductions illustrate Matisse’s versatility in different media and his innovative, expansive concept of drawing. Despite the variety of his output, the work always reflects the artist’s constant desire to express pure emotion in visual terms.