Art history speaker Carol Ehlers, will present a free lecture on Henri Matisse's art, "Later Life: The Cutouts" at the Muscatine Art Center on Thursday, May 21. Guests are welcome to view the artwork now part of the Muscatine Art Center collection.

French artist Henri Matisse, (b.1869 - d. 1954) is one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century whose works exhibit "the perfect synthesis of line and color." The lecture will include an introduction of the artist's famous works that cover various styles and themes that include fauvism, odalisque, pointillism, decorative arts, dance, and music.

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In 1941, Henri Matisse was diagnosed with abdominal cancer and underwent surgery that left him unable to stand. Painting and sculpture had become difficult physical challenges, which made turn to colored cut paper as his primary medium.

Henry Matisse began making his famous cut-out artworks which he called, "drawing with scissors," cutting out various shapes from sheets of colored paper and composed the pieces to portray various subjects.

Matisse initially used paper cut-outs to help him plan his paintings by physically visualizing the effects between composition, color and contrast. In the years following World War II, the artist, while trying to cope with the difficulties of illness and old age, had created some of the most dynamic and vibrant works of his artistic life.

For his small works, studio assistants would paint on sheets of white paper with colors that he would choose. Then the artist would cut out shapes depending on his theme such as female nudes, geometric compositions or botanical design.

Henry Matisse would then compose the shapes and pin them to a board, adjusting positions until he is pleased.

Henry Matisse's approach to cut outs were also expressed using a different medium. He applied this when he designed the stain glass windows, murals and priestly vestments for the Chapel of Rosary in Vence, France.

TagsArt Exhibit, Muscatine Art Center, Henri Matisse, paper cutout