Matisse at War

By: Christopher C. Gorham

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

In 1940, with the Nazis sweeping through France, Henri Matisse found himself at a personal and artistic crossroads. His marriage had ended, he was gravely ill, and after decades at the forefront of modern art, he was beset by doubt. As scores of famous figures escaped the country, Matisse took refuge in Nice, with his companion, Lydia. By defiantly remaining, Matisse was a source of inspiration for his nation.

While enemy agents and Resistance fighters played cat-and-mouse in the alleyways of Nice, Matisse's son, Jean, engaged in sabotage efforts with the Allies. In Paris, under the swastika, Matisse's estranged wife worked for the Communist underground. His daughter, Marguerite, active in the French Resistance, was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo, sentenced to Ravensbruck concentration camp—and miraculously escaped when her train was halted by Allied bombs. His younger son, Pierre helped Jewish artists escape to New York; even his grandson risked his life by defying the Germans and their Vichy collaborators. Amidst this chaos, Matisse responded to the dark days of war by inventing a dazzling new paper technique that led to some of his most iconic pieces, including The Fall of Icarus, his profile of Charles De Gaulle, Monsieur Loyal, and his groundbreaking cut-out book, Jazz. His wartime works were acts of resistance, subtly patriotic, and daringly new.

©2025 Christopher C. Gorham (P)2025 Tantor Media

Modern Art meets Fascism and Fascism loses

Hitler, failed artist, died in a besieged bunker. Matisse worked on a Dominican chapel as an expression of his profound understanding of the world. This was his last work in a long and fulfilling life. The book details the conflict between idiotic dictators and the modern world. I am so glad the good guys won.

Understanding the Artist

I was unaware of the artist’s life during WW II. This book gave me outstanding knowledge of his work during this period.