Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Blue Nude II (Nu bleu II), spring 1952, Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, on paper, mounted on canvas. Musée national d’art moderne/Centre de création industrielle, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. Purchase, 1984.

Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs has finally arrived at the Museum of Modern Art, from its first stop in London, at the Tate Modern. This show is monumental and quite significant, focusing solely on the last decade or so of Matisse’s life, spanning the 1940s and 50s. The large scale of many of these works is striking, as are the tremendous color relationships. Not to mention the genius technique itself. I’m still thinking about those pieces on view that retain the original pins or tacks placed by the artist himself or according to his direction. I also loved seeing The Swimming Pool (La Piscine) again, this time after a meticulous six-year conservation that actually initiated the idea for this exhibition. This massive work, nearly 54 feet in total length, was originally placed in Matisse’s dining room in Nice and has not been on view for more than 20 years.

Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs is on view through February 8, 2015

www.moma.org