“Henri Matisse’s art is some of the best known—and most loved—of the modern era. This exhibition focuses on a somewhat less familiar aspect of his work, but one that inspired a passionate and enduring commitment during the latter part of the artist’s career. The extraordinary volumes on view show Matisse delighting in the smaller scale of book design and are a testament to the fact that his talent transcended any medium.” — Colin B. Bailey, director of The Morgan Library & Museum
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), frontispiece illustration in Louis Thomas (1885–1962), André Rouveyre. Paris: Les Bibliophiles Fantaisistes, Dorbon-Aîné, 1912. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), illustration in Pierre Reverdy (1889–1960), Les jockeys camouflés: trois poèmes par Monsieur Pierre Reverdy, agrémentés de cinq dessins inédits de Monsieur Henri Matisse. Paris: Se trouve à la Belle Édition, 1918. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), preliminary designs for Stéphane Mallarmé, Poésies (1932). Collection of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Pierre Matisse (1900–1989), photograph of Henri Matisse in the Bois de Boulogne (ca. 1931– 1932). Gift of the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, 1997, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
![Montherlant, Henry de, 1896-1972. Pasiphae : Chant de Minos (Les Cretois) / [Paris] : Martin Fabiani, [1944], p. 42 and facing lihtograph (stitched together), PML 195598](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/6-pasiphac3a9-chant-de-minos-les-crc3a9tois.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), linocut illustration and initial in Henry de Montherlant (1895– 1972), Pasiphaé, Chant de Minos (Les Crétois). Paris: Martin Fabiani, 1944. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
![Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Dessins : themes et variations / [Paris] : Martin Fabiani, 1943. Frontispiece and Title Page, stitched together PML 195596](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/7-dessins-thc3a8mes-et-variations-prc3a9cc3a9dc3a9s.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), Dessins: Thèmes et variations … précédés de “Matisse-en-France” par Aragon. Paris: Martin Fabiani, 1943. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), rejected cover design for Les fleurs du mal (1946). Collection of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), preliminary study for the etching in the Circe chapter, Ulysses (1934). Collection of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), Dernières oeuvres de Matisse 1950–1954.Paris: Éditions de la Revue Verve, 1958. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
![Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Icare (Jazz, pl. VIII) [Paris : Teriade, 1947] 2007.77h](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1-icarus1.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), Icarus, pochoir, plate VIII, Jazz (1947). Courtesy of Frances and Michael Baylson © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
![Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Le Cirque (Jazz, pl. II) [Paris : Teriade, 1947] 2007.77b](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/10-circus-pochoir-plate-ii-in-jazz.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), Circus, pochoir, plate II in Jazz (1947). Courtesy of Frances and Michael Baylson © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
![Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954. Le Toboggan (Jazz, pl. XX) [Paris : Teriade, 1947] 2007.77t](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/12-le-toboggan.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), Le Toboggan, pochoir, plate XX in Jazz (1947). Courtesy of Frances and Michael Baylson © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), cutout cover designs for Repli (1947). Collection of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, New York © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
![Charles, d’Orleans, 1394-1465. Poemes / de Charles d’Orleans ; manuscrits et illustres par Henri Matisse[Paris] : Teriade editeur, [1950] PML 195613, frontispiece and title page (stitched together)](https://i0.wp.com/artssummary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/14-frontispiece-and-title-page-poc3a8mes-de-charles-d_orlc3a9ans.jpg?ssl=1)
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), frontispiece and title page, Poèmes de Charles d’Orléans. Paris: Tériade Éditeur, 1950. Frances and Michael Baylson Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum. © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954), proofs of initials for Pasiphaé (1944). Collection of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, New York © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Graham S. Haber 2015.
Images courtesy The Morgan Library & Museum