Icare - Plate 8 of Jazz, 1947, Skateboard

Henri Matisse was a pioneering French artist, known as leader of the Fauvist movement and for his joyful exploration of colour and form.   

This piece was created during the later years of Matisse’s career, when he was suffering from stomach cancer. During this period, he invented a new form of art – the cut-out – which involved crafting lively compositions from cut-out and painted pieces of paper.   
 
Icare is believed to be Matisse’s interpretation of the Greek myth of Icarus, who perished after flying too close to the sun. As the legend goes, those ‘with a passionate heart falls out of the starry sky.’ The artwork is thought to represent Matisse’s concerns for his family, who were all involved with the French Resistance. 

This skateboard is from an open edition.  

Size (cm): 80 x 20