Collection Concentration: Matisse, A Global Perspective

About the Class

Henri Matisse looked far beyond the traditions of European painting for inspiration. Art from Persia, West Africa, China, and other parts of the world helped shape his evolving approach to color, pattern, space, and form. In this course, held in the Barnes collection, we’ll focus on the ways Matisse absorbed and transformed global artistic traditions that so closely informed his practice.

The Barnes offers a particularly rich setting for this kind of cross-cultural exploration. When Matisse first visited in 1930, he encountered modern French paintings displayed alongside objects from Africa and Asia. Struck by the connections he saw across the galleries, he later described the Barnes as “the only sane place to see art.”

Through close looking and gallery discussions, we’ll explore these connections while gaining a more complete understanding of Matisse’s modern aesthetic.

Capacity: 18

Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

See all classes.

Barnes Method

Barnes Method courses follow the teachings of Dr. Albert Barnes and Violette de Mazia. Classes focus on rigorous formal analysis and direct visual engagement with works of art. In this method, close looking at art helps build critical-thinking skills that can be carried beyond the gallery walls.

What Our Students Say

“The instructor was not only knowledgeable but so accessible, and such an inviting presence. She provided great reading to supplement the course.” —Mary Cassatt: Art, Identity, and Independence with Larissa Bailiff

“Pierre brings the art alive with her inside stories and images and how she interacts with the students. She is always able to answer and follow up with more information at the next class.” —Exhibiting Modernism: From the Salon to the Avant-Garde with Caterina Pierre

“Alison Boyd was engaging and effective during the online instruction, and she offered well-selected background materials for further reading.” —Aaron Douglas from Harlem to Philly with Alison Boyd