2005 Henri Matisse Icarus Jazz Poster – Louisiana Museum Exhibition – Blue & Yellow Modern Art

A striking Matisse exhibition poster showing a black figure suspended against a vivid blue background, surrounded by yellow starbursts, with a small red heart on its chest. The simple shapes and strong colours make this one of his most recognisable images.
The artwork is Icare (Icarus), plate VIII from Jazz, published in 1947. Matisse developed the images using shapes cut from painted paper, which were then reproduced as stencil prints for the book.
The title refers to the Greek myth of Icarus, who fell after flying too close to the sun. There is also a darker interpretation: the Metropolitan Museum connects the falling figure and surrounding bursts with the danger and violence of the Second World War, during which Matisse began the project.
Printing method: colour printing on paper, probably offset lithography.
Dimensions: 35.5 in x 23.5 in (90 cm x 59 cm)

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French artist celebrated for his expressive colour and simplified forms. Following serious illness in 1941, he increasingly explored paper cut-outs, developing an extraordinary late body of work. He described the process as “drawing with scissors”. Icarus shows how he could create movement and emotion using just a few carefully arranged shapes.

What is special about exhibition and gallery posters is that they are an affordable way of getting good, unique art on the walls, as although it is not an artists original, neither is it something that has been mass reproduced.

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the charm.

These posters are sent as unframed. They are delivered in a cardboard tube for protection.

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