La Danse (1910) 

The Philadelphia Museum of Art now presents “Matisse in the 1930s,” on view through January 29, 2023. 

This colorful exhibit explores changes in the artist’s work across multiple formats, including easel and decorative painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and the illustrated book. The artwork also addresses the methods of working that renewed Matisse’s style, as well as his modern renderings of mythological themes from antiquity, his depictions of female models in the studio, and his partnership with his studio manager and model, Lydia Delectorskaya.

The year 1930 marked an unusual point in Matisse’s career. By that time, he had achieved significant international praise and recognition, but personally and creatively, he found himself in a deep creative slump. The turning point came in the fall of that year when he was hired to decorate the main gallery of the Barnes Foundation, then located in a suburb of Philadelphia. Something about the assignment lit an artistic match and the resulting monumental mural, The Dance (1930-33), became one of his best-known pieces. To this day it is a favorite among art lovers for its depiction of movement and grace.

“Matisse in the 1930s” is a separately ticketed exhibition within the museum. Tickets are sold on a timed entry basis every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. until 1 hour 30 minutes before closing each day. Standard tickets are $30 per person and include timed entry to the Matisse exhibition and the museum at large. Philadelphia Museum of Art members receive unlimited, free access with their membership card, but member guest tickets must be booked in advance. 

To learn more, visit https://philamuseum.org.