In his 60s and 70s, Henri Matisse, now famous, turned to mural decorations of striking scale and rigorous flatness. He composed these using techniques he himself invented, including painted cutouts. He explored printmaking techniques of all kinds, and he devised patterns for carpets and stained glass. Agnostic and frail, but determined to the end, he designed a luminous Catholic chapel. 

In this four-part series John Walsh, B.A. 1961, Director Emeritus of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, explores the phases of Matisse’s career. What were the artist’s innovations, and how did he relate to the critics, public, and fellow artists of his day? Each lecture is anchored to an important work, emphasizing close looking. 

Learn more about the series.