Matisse in the Studio

About the Class

Henri Matisse often reminded people that even if his colorful paintings looked spontaneous, they were the result of difficult and demanding work. This course is a deep dive into Matisse’s process of making.

Over four sessions, we will examine Matisse's source materials, his relationships with his models, the impact of his various studios, and the collection of objects that surrounded him in those spaces. What can these factors reveal about the often mysterious ways in which works of art are created? We will explore selected objects spanning Matisse’s career across a diverse range of media, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, paper cutouts, artist’s books, and textiles. We’ll also pay close attention to Matisse’s own words and the ideas he communicated about his creative process.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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