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19911824 · 9 months

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The Matisse Chapel

The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, colloquially known as The Matisse Chapel, exists both as an ode to the artist’s life’s work and as a departure from the works for which he is most known. The artistic language of the structure is made up of simple, geometric elements atypical of the church setting (though Matisse was a self-proclaimed atheist, maybe this explains some of it). Abstract shapes in the details resemble his famous works on paper, but the sparseness overall feels different. Perhaps this emptiness serves the spiritual nature of the building, but perhaps it also reiterates the confidence that comes with age. It’s tempting to analyze the chapel in this way, as the chapel was built from 1949-1951, and it was only three years later when Matisse passed away at 84 years old.

Either way, to say that Matisse’s chapel exists solely as a denominational house of worship would undermine the artistic splendor within. At face value, it is nearly stark: white-washed plaster walls with simple wooden pews makes up much of the square footage. The proportions are unusual as well. However, the “Matisse”-ness defiantly penetrates this minimalism as if the building is a canvas; his artistry soars here. Azure blue stained-glass windows cast streaks of color made possible only by the genius of his mind. This is what Matisse achieved so beautifully in the space: an understanding of restraint where necessary and audacity where it was most effective. Of course, the standard components of a catholic chapel are present, i.e. imagery of the Madonna and Child and of the Tree of Life, but they’re reimagined in his unique way – not forcibly ornate or gaudy at all. Instead, each component of the chapel demands a deliberate amount of thought, of attention, and of respect not just for the religiosity but truly for the artistic integrity of Matisse’s work. Even the garments intended to be worn by the priests serving the chapel were carefully designed by him. As the only non-stagnant piece of the chapel, they are the most emblematic of his crafting process. Formed by placing together various colorful panels, it’s clear that he intended for the garments to be able to be pieced together much like his cut-out pieces would have been. In the end, they stand out as beautiful artworks in their own right.