'Matisse, la couleur sans limite'

An artistic reinvention at the dawn of his 80th birthday

The exhibition ‘Matisse, la couleur sans limite’ (Matisse, colour without limits), presented in galleries 3 and 4 of the Grand Palais, highlights a fascinating period in the artist's life: his creative years between 1941 and 1954. At nearly 80 years of age, Henri Matisse reinvented himself through the technique of cut-out gouache, which he elevated to the status of an autonomous plastic language. This retrospective, the first of its kind in France, reveals a rich multidisciplinary practice, where painting, drawing, illustration, textiles and stained glass interact in a colourful and expressive harmony.

An immersive journey into the heart of the master's studio

With over 230 works from prestigious collections – Centre Pompidou, MoMA, MET, Barnes Foundation, Beyeler Foundation, etc. – the exhibition offers an immersion into Matisse's creative universe. The exhibition reveals major pieces rarely seen in France: the Intérieurs de Vence, the Jazz album, the Nus bleus, and the decorative elements of the Chapelle de Vence. The scenography, designed by Julie Boidin, recreates the atmosphere of the Régina apartment-studio, where the works, both mobile and vegetal, flourish freely on the walls, in a symbiosis between space and creation.

An artistic and sensory experience in Paris

Designed as an immersive experience, the exhibition is aimed at art lovers and curious visitors alike who are looking for a visual thrill. It reveals Matisse's generosity, his quest for universal simplicity and his ability to transform space through colour. In 2026, the Grand Palais will become Matisse's garden, a lively and inspiring place that is a must-see during a cultural stay in Paris.

The exhibitions are the talk of the Paris Region.