Matisse, Gertrude Stein, and Artsteps

My Matisse Exhibit

     This project was especially fun for me. Curating Mattise's artwork allowed me to look at different aspects of the his style, palette, and themes that I would not have noticed while just observing it. Curation gets you closer and more connected with the art. The Artscape exhibit coupled with Gertrude Stein's repetitious, yet unique, offbeat quotes from her "Matisse" composition helped me understand Matisse's struggle to achieve recognition and his process of recognizing himself as a great. The Matisse biography "The Personal Life of Henri Matisse", discusses the publics reaction to his work, "Eyewitness accounts tell of laughter emanating from room VII where they were displayed." When Matisse was presenting his deviating art in the early 1900's, few could appreciate his unique style. 
     I began my curation process by selecting the Matisse pieces I enjoyed, allowing the theme of the exhibit to develop from my attraction to the art. I was drawn to his paintings of his models. I loved how he portrayed each woman's different qualities. 
     Navigating clockwise around the exhibit, when you enter and look to the left the first piece I chose was "Odalisque with Green Sash", with Stein's quote, "There were very many wanting to be doing what he was doing that is to be one clearly expressing something." This painting is one of the more graphic pieces out of all of the ones in the exhibit. I envisioned myself walking into an exhibit where that was the first piece I observed--my attention would be captured. I chose this quote because I imagine that many artists, collectors, or spectators would have wanted to deviate away from the traditional art of the time and create, collect, or appreciate what they desired, however societal restrictions made this less likely to do so. 
     The following piece I selected was "Purple Robe and Anemones", with Stein's quote, "Some were certain that this one was clearly expressing something being struggling, some were certain that this one was not greatly expressing something being struggling." I placed this piece next to "Odalisque with Green Sash" because of the red vertical lines in the background of both. In addition, this painting is the first in a series of different pieces with models in dresses I chose--located on the following wall. Stein's quote explains how some perceived Matisse's style of painting as lacking skill and traditional technique, where as others perceived his style of painting as skilled and innovative.
     The next piece I selected was "The Embroidered Dark Blouse", with Stein's quote, "He certainly was clearly expressing something, certainly sometime any one might come to know that of him." This piece followed "Purple Robe and Anemones" because of the similar abstract representation of the models and the orange hue used in the backgrounds. Stein's quote explains Matisse's truly unique abstract way of conveying the conventional.
     Next, I selected "The Yellow Dress", with Stein's quote, "One was quite certain that for a long part of his being one being living he had been trying to be certain that he was wrong in doing what he was doing and then when he could not come to be certain that he had been wrong in doing what he had been doing, when he had completely convinced himself that he would not come to be certain that he had been wrong in doing what he had been doing he was really certain then that he was a great one and he certainly was a great one." I chose this painting because the model and her dress are a poised focal point for the centerpiece of the wall and exhibit. Also, the background of the painting is a blend of the orange in the background of "The Embroidered Dark Blouse" and the browns in "The Brown Dress". Stein's quote explains how Matisse's grappled with self doubt, however his perception of himself and his art transformed from a negative one to a positive one. I love this quote, it is an incredible way of explaining how Matisse found peace in his trials.
     I selected "The Brown Dress"as my next piece, with Stein's quote, "Certainly very many knowing this one and being certain that this one was a great man and that this one was clearly telling something were not listening to this one telling about being living, were not listening to this one telling this again and again." I chose this because of Matisse's use of soft and dark colors. The dark colors in the painting offset the vibrancy of "The Yellow Dress" and leads you to the following wall which is predominantly soft and dark colors. Stein's quote explains how the individuals who noted Matisse's talent had not allowed the critics to sway their opinion of his work.
     The following wall has three pieces that I will discuss together. From left to right I chose "The Music Lesson, Two Women Seated on a Divan", with Stein's quote, "This one was certainly a great man, this one was certainly clearly expressing something." Next I chose, "Woman in a Striped Pullover, Violin on the Table", with Stein's quote, "He was certainly a great man, any one could be really certain of this thing, every one could be certain of this thing." Lastly, I chose "Violinist and Young Girl", with Stein's quote ""Every one could come to be certain that he was a great man."
     I selected these pieces for the wall because they are violin themed. As well as, the color flow from one wall with the brown in "The Brown Dress" to the next wall with the brown-orange in "The Music Lesson, Two Women Seated on a Divan", to the orange-red in "Woman in a Striped Pullover, Violin on the Table", to the reds in "Violinist and Young Girl". The three quotes I selected discuss how Matisse inevitably achieved positive recognition from individuals and and the whole.
    For the final wall in the exhibit I chose the remainder of the "Odalisque" pieces I had selected. I picked that location because it separates these pieces from the rest of the walls, but is close enough to the "Odalisque with Green Sash" piece at the entrance to the exhibit to keep them all together. I placed them close to one another so they can be viewed exclusively.
     From left to right, I chose "Standing Odalisque Reflected in a Mirror", with Stein's quote, "Some were certain that he expressed something very clearly and some of such of them said that he would have been a greater one if he had not been one so clearly expressing what he was expressing." I selected this quote to go with one of his nude models because Matisse has a rawness to his depictions that to this day some might have a difficult time appreciating.
     For the centerpiece I chose, "Seated Odalisque, Left Knee Bent, Ornamental Background and Checkerboard ", with Stein's quote, "This one was one very many were knowing some and very many were glad to meet him, very many sometimes listened to him, some listened to him very often, there were some who listened to him, and he talked then and he told them then that certainly he had been one suffering and he was then being one trying to be certain that he was wrong in doing what he was doing and he had come then to be certain that he never would be certain that he was doing what it was wrong for him to be doing then and he was suffering then and he was certain that he would be one doing what he was doing and he was certain that he should be one doing what he was doing and he was certain that he would always be one suffering and this then made him certain this, that he would always be one being suffering, this made him certain that he was expressing something being struggling and certainly very many were quite certain that he was greatly expressing something being struggling." Stein wrote about how Matisse explained his battle for recognition and self recognition, and how he persevered and continued to immerse himself in his art, even though it was tormenting. His dedication to his work lead him to accept the negative and positive experiences he endured. Eventually, he viewed his art as a symbolic representation of his struggle.
     Finally, I chose "Standing Odalisque, Tambourine in Her Right Hand", with Stein's quote, "Some said he was not clearly expressing what he was expressing and some of such of them said that the greatness of struggling which was not clear expression made of him one being a completely great one." Stein's quote explains again, how some perceived his paintings as unskilled depictions, where as other perceived his paintings as a unique abstract style and that is what made him so great.