Henri Matisse was born in the grayness of the North, but it was the Southern light that ignited his palette. When he discovered the Mediterranean in 1898 during a trip to Corsica, it was love at first sight. The blue of the sea, the dazzling sun, the sharp shadows… A sensory revelation that would shape his entire work. Today, this love story is being told in grand style in Nice, with the Matisse Mediterranean(s) exhibition, set in the charming setting of the Matisse museum, right in the heart of the Cimiez gardens, from May 7th to September 8th.
Over 150 works from around the world
More than just a simple retrospective, this exhibition is a journey. It explores the sunlit shores that nourished the painter's gaze: Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Italy, and even the dreamed-up, idealized Greece as an antique muse. Through more than 150 works from around the world – from MoMA in New York to the...sées de Philadelphie et de Boston – here we (re)discover a traveling Matisse, a poet of the South, with many pieces that are rarely or never exhibited in France. To say the least: it’s a golden opportunity.
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And for those who love to understand gently, an interactive app offers videos, read letters, and rare archives to accompany the visit without ever feeling overwhelming. A perfect balance between immersion and accessibility. And when you step outside, you can extend the daydream among the olive trees in Cimiez, in peace, far from the hustle and bustle. The exhibition...is part of the Biennale of Arts and the Ocean, and as the cherry on top, it’s free for the residents of Nice and its metropolitan area. A suspended moment, between sunshine and masterpiece.
Address: 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, 06000 Nice, France
