In the final decades of his prolific career, modern artist Henri Matisse (1869–1954) turned his attention to the art of book illustration. One of his most celebrated contributions in this realm is Jazz, a 1947 artist book exploring themes of the circus and theater. The work features 20 vibrant stencil prints, or pochoirs, depicting lively subjects such as acrobats, horses, and ringmasters.

These prints were made from Matisse’s signature paper cutouts, a technique he famously described as “drawing with scissors.” Their bold colors and dynamic forms exemplify the joyful energy and spontaneity of his late style. Jazz was published by the pioneering Greek publisher Tériade (Stratis Eleftheriadis) and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of graphic art.

This exhibition celebrates the 2024 acquisition of Jazz and presents the rare opportunity to view its unbound prints alongside other Matisse artist books from the collection. Together, these works highlight the artist’s innovative approach to visual storytelling and his enduring influence on the book as a creative medium.