Henri Matisse Icarus

When we discuss art, we are often looking at the productions of artists in the prime of their ability. We look at works by the master artist, executed with their unique yet astounding ability. However, it is not just the technique that makes an artist. And for a great artist, even when the abilities have declined, their eye for art, for the visual medium, are often still such that they can create with few tools what others strive a lifetime to achieve.

A great example of this is the Henri Matisse masterpiece Icarus. It shows the greek myth of Icarus, why flew too close to the sun and ended up falling to his death. In the piece, Icarus is seen among the stars in a dark blue sky. However, it is not clear from the work whether Icarus is flying up or falling down. His rather flailing future, and the clear absence of any wings, could indicate that he is falling. A red dot on Icarus indicates his beating heart.

Icarus was part of illustrations created by Matisse for the book Jazz. In his seventies, frail and unable to really paint, he instead used scissors and paper and arranged the cut outs on paper. Thus, though he used simple tools, instead instruments any child could use, the result of such work by a true master was none the less among his most famous work. Art reproductions of Henri Matisse works.