Blue Nudes...

6:54 p.m.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is currently exhibiting "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs", a group of works in which the talented French artist used an innovative technique for his time: paper cutting.

Matisse (1869-1954) begins with these collages at an old age, by the end of his impressive career, when his hands were of no use for painting. Secluded in his room at the Regina Hotel in Nice, and in a wheelchair, he usually worked from his bed.
As he cut the papers, his imagination flowed and more and more collages appeared. He used a large pair of scissors, as those used by tailors, and also smaller ones, according to the needs of the figures. Afterwards his assistants would "pin" them on large white papers covering the walls of his room. Matisse would then shift the figures or add new cuts till he arrived to the desired result.

Of all the works on display, the blue nudes are specially interesting. Matisse would first draw them with pencil and ink and cut them later. His assistant, secretary and devoted admirer, the Russian Lydia Delectorskaya, explained that Matisse did each nude on a different day and cut them all together, a task he completed in no more than 15 minutes.