“Henri Matisse: La Gerbe,” an exhibition highlighting Matisse’s final commissioned artwork, is now on view at LACMA through September 8. The work was commissioned by Frances L. Brody in honor of the museum’s 25th anniversary and bequeathed in 2010.
In 1952, Los Angeles philanthropists Mr. and Mrs. Sidney F. Brody contacted Matisse and asked that he create an artwork for the patio of their new home designed by A. Quincy Jones. This resulted in a 2,000-lb., 12-x-18 ft. ceramic piece titled “La Gerbe” (The Sheaf), which would be the artist’s last commissioned artwork.
This exhibition marks the first time in which the ceramic artwork will be on display with the rare, full-scale maquette, on loan from UCLA’s Hammer Museum.
Late in his career, Matisse systematically developed a technique in which he cut vibrantly colored papers into organic shapes and then arranged them onto his studio’s wall.
The artist’s paper cut-out practice is exemplified in the exhibition by some of these late-career works such as the “Madame de Pompadour” (1951) and the historic book “Jazz” (1947), a full series of 20 prints that notably was Matisse’s first major project using the paper cut-out technique.
Additionally, the entire set of 19 original color samples of “La
Gerbe,” all hand-painted by the artist, will also be on view for the first time. The exhibition features a selection of archival materials documenting the story of the artist’s final commission, including photos, letters, and instructions regarding the making and acquisition of the work.
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