“The Clown (Le clown),” 1947. Image by Henri Matisse (1869-1954), courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Museum purchase, gift of Margaret and William R. Hearst III. ©️ 2024 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Randy Dodson.
Some artworks remain as vibrant and groundbreaking today as when they were first created.
Henri Matisse’s Jazz series, published in 1947 as a limited-edition book, revolutionized modern printmaking with its bold use of cut paper, color, and movement. Featuring iconic pieces like “The Clown” and “The Sword Swallower,” this collection showcases Matisse’s late-career innovation and his ability to capture the essence of improvisation and spontaneity.
From January 25 through July 6, 2025, the de Young Museum will present “Matisse: Jazz Unbound,” an exhibition dedicated to exploring the vibrancy and innovation of this groundbreaking series, including a rare unbound copy of Jazz recently acquired by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.