Henri Matisse's work is loved worldwide for its revolutionary use of color, powerful simplicity and timeless formal language. Yet his oeuvre has rarely been seen on this scale in the Netherlands. That makes Chez Matisse special: it is only the artist's third major retrospective ever in the Netherlands. From early paintings and intimate drawings to iconic clippings from his later years, an artistic journey unfolds in which freedom and innovation take center stage.
The exhibition ‘Chez Matisse - Masterpieces from Centre Pompidou’ at H'ART Museum from Oct. 3, 2026 through Feb. 14, 2027 takes visitors through Matisse's development as a painter, sculptor, draughtsman and graphic artist. His search for balance, simplicity and expression is evident in each work. Whereas contemporary Pablo Picasso constantly broke with styles and forms, Matisse instead worked steadily toward refinement. His belief that true simplicity comes from years of experimentation can be felt throughout the exhibition.
What Chez Matisse extra special is the dialogue with other great names in modern art. Works by Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Sonia Delaunay, Georges Braque and Kees van Dongen, among others, show how great Matisse's influence was - and still is. The exhibition shows how his innovative outlook inspired generations of artists, from his immediate contemporaries to contemporary creators.
“Matisse didn't just paint with color, he gave color a completely new meaning. His exhibition at H'ART Museum undoubtedly promises to be one of the cultural highlights of the year for art lovers.”
With this exceptional collaboration between H'ART Museum and Centre Pompidou, Amsterdam once again gains an international crowd-puller. The combination of world-famous masterpieces, rare loans and an innovative presentation makes this exhibition an absolute must-see for anyone interested in modern art, culture and design.