Henri Matisse, Luxe, calme et volupté (1904). Musée national d’art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris. © Succession H. Matisse / 2024, ProLitteris, Zurich. Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d‘Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski.
Henri Matisse once said, “Creativity takes courage,”—and his bold use of color proves it. “Matisse – Invitation to the Voyage” at the Fondation Beyeler offers a rare chance to see over 70 of his works, tracing his evolution from early Fauvist pieces to his famous cut-outs. It is the first Henri Matisse retrospective in Switzerland and in the German-speaking world in almost 20 years.
Inspired by his travels to places like Morocco and Tahiti, the exhibition takes you through Matisse’s vibrant world, all connected to Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Invitation to the Voyage.” It’s a vivid exploration of how the artist’s journeys shaped his groundbreaking approach to color and form.