The Guide
17 September 2024

Matisse – Invitation to the Voyage at Fondation Beyeler

by Redaction NOW Village


The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel is preparing to host an exceptional exhibition dedicated to Henri Matisse, entitled “Matisse – Invitation to the Voyage”.

From September 22, 2024 to January 26, 2025, this retrospective is the first in Switzerland and the German-speaking world for almost 20 years, offering a unique opportunity to rediscover the seminal work of one of the greatest artists of modern art.

An artistic journey inspired by Baudelaire

Taking Charles Baudelaire’s 1857 poem “L’Invitation au voyage” as its starting point, the exhibition explores the themes and motifs that resonate in Matisse’s work. Featuring more than 70 major works from private collections and prestigious museums in Europe and the United States, the exhibition highlights the evolution and richness of Matisse’s work, from his earliest works around 1900 to the famous papiers découpés of the 1940s and 1950s.

Henri Matisse, Interior with Black Fern (The Black Fern), 1948, Photo: Robert Bayer | Henri Matisse, Interior with an Egyptian Curtain, 1948, Photo: The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. | Henri Matisse, Acanthuses, 1953, Photo: Robert Bayer © Succession H. Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich

A journey through all Matisse’s periods

The exhibition offers a chronological and thematic journey through the different periods of Matisse’s work:

Beginnings and Fauvism (1900-1910)

Revolutionary works such as Luxe, calme et volupté (1904) and La fenêtre ouverte, Collioure (1905) demonstrate Matisse’s bold use of color and simplification of form.

Experiments in the 1910s

Paintings such as Le Luxe I (1907) and Baigneuses à la tortue (1907/08) illustrate his formal and stylistic explorations.

Henri Matisse, Bathers with a Turtle, 1907-08, Saint Louis Art Museum, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer Jr. © Succession H. Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Saint Louis Art Museum
Nice period and 1930s

Sensual works and large-scale decorative compositions, such as Figure décorative sur fond ornemental (1925/26) and Grand nu couché (1935), testify to his interest in decoration and harmony.

Paper cut-outs (1940-1950)

His legendary paper cut-outs, such as Nu bleu I (1952), mark the culmination of his work in which painting, drawing and sculpture come together.

Emblematic and rare works

Curated by Raphaël Bouvier, the exhibition brings together iconic and rarely exhibited works from prestigious institutions such as the Centre Pompidou (Paris), the National Gallery (Washington), MoMA (New York), K20 (Düsseldorf) and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Masterpieces on show include La Desserte (1897), Luxe, calme et volupté (1904), Intérieur rouge, nature morte sur table bleue (1947), and many others.

Henri Matisse, Large Reclining Nude (The Pink Nude), 1935, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Etta Cone of Baltimore, 1950 © Succession H. Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Mitro Hood | Henri Matisse, Blue Nude I, 1952, Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Bâle, Beyeler Collection © Succession H. Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Robert Bayer

An invitation to travel

Echoing the words of Baudelaire, the exhibition is conceived as a journey through Matisse’s work and life, in which real and symbolic travel play a central role. The artist’s travels to Italy, Spain, Morocco and as far afield as Tahiti are all sources of inspiration that have nourished his work and his artistic vision.

Practical information

Dates : September 22, 2024 – January 26, 2025
Monday to Sunday 10h-18h
Wednesday 10h–20h
Friday 10h–21h

Works presented : Over 70 major works

Don’t miss this must-see exhibition that promises to captivate art lovers and rediscover the magic and innovation of Henri Matisse’s work.

Fondation Beyeler
Baselstrasse 101, CH-4125 Riehen/Basel
Phone : +41 61 645 97 00
Email : info@fondationbeyeler.ch
Website : www.fondationbeyeler.ch