Matisse on Art, Revised edition (Documents of Twentieth-Century Art)

Excellent

This book by J.D. Flam is a chronological collection of letters and texts written, interviews and statements given, by Matisse. The book starts out with a introduction by Flam writing about Matisse's live and development, building around statements by the artist and frequently quoting from texts published in the book. Followed by a note on how to read the texts. Additionally each text is introduced with some short paragraphs. Each twenty pages or so there are a couple black and white photographs and reproductions of works by Matisse further illustrating what is said in the texts. These are of a good quality. In the beginning of the book the contents a clearly stated along with an index of the images. In the back there's a more thorough index, where you'll also find a chronology on Matisse's life, an appendix with selected French texts and the notes.This book of Matisse is a true addition to my library as an art student. Matisse's ideas on art fundamentally stay the same but over the course of the book they become more developed. The essence is that an artist should always and above all express himself. For example he writes about how he made a painting or drawing, about his education at the academy, or makes statement about subjects in art such as portraiture of photography and how and artist should relate to these in order to be able to continue expressing the self. The different length of texts makes it easy to just dip in and take a short concise or a longer more elaborated text. This makes it a wonderful book to just grab of the shelf when you get stuck in your ideas on art and get them rolling again.The book is also readable in chronological order but and this is the only little negative point I found, Matisse's seems to repeat himself slightly although the details of each text are different. This is off course a result of collecting all the texts and I didn't found this disturbing enough to drop the rating by a star. For art students, teachers, Matisse and art lovers alike I would strongly recommend this book that gives a wonderful insight in the ideas of this artist.

This book is loaded with gems (which is why I refer to it as a fruitcake!). You can read it cover to cover, or just open it anywhere and be amazed at the verbal gems of this wonderful artist who dazzled us for many years with his fascinating and evolving work. I especially loved his description and reaction to New York City which is near where I grew up. He showed it to me with new eyes in all its beauty.Very very worth while for those of us who are artists and teachers of art, but also to those who want to see the evolution of a life well lived.

This is a must book for anyone who wants to become an artist. Except for Matisse's final interview (which was published elsewhere), this volume follows his published thoughts not only about how he himself creates art, but also about what the visual arts are really about. Since these essays were published over a long period of time, there is some repetition in his thoughts; nevertheless, it is fascinating to see how Matisse develops his philosophy as the emphasis of his painting changes. The editor, Jack Flam, does an excellent job of tying these essays together in both time and place. This volume belongs on every artist's bookshelf.

Bought this as a gift and it arrived on time and in brand new condition. I was nervous the cover would be different because of a previous review, but the one I received is the same as the photo (pink).

Though used, the book showed no signs at all of ever having been opened.

It Matisse nothing more to add