Henri Matisse standing against a screen and drawing with chalk 1939

Curator: Immediately striking, isn't it? Brassaï captured Henri Matisse in 1939, standing against a screen while drawing with chalk on what appears to be a door. The gelatin silver print, in monochrome, feels both intimate and performative. Editor: There’s an inherent tension in the composition—the division between the screen's pattern and the fluidity of the drawing. Matisse seems to be peeking out, a somewhat awkward presentation, a visual dichotomy hinting at the artist's process and persona. Is this carefully constructed, or does it reveal something about the sitter? Curator: I see the continuity through the monochrome. There's a clear lineage to be drawn from portraiture through the ages. Notice how the drawn image above him mirrors, exaggerates, even caricatures the artist's features. Editor: The monochrome lens strips away some of the artifice and the possibility for "beauty", laying bare the structural elements. But isn’t that exaggeration bordering on self-deprecation interesting? Does Matisse drawing an exaggerated face imply something about how artists saw themselves amidst the turmoil of 1939, on the precipice of global conflict? Curator: Perhaps. I think it's crucial to acknowledge the power of imagery to persist in cultural memory, through periods of turmoil and peace, a need for expression never ends, through self-portraits, icons or drawing. The use of readily accessible material like chalk in a rather raw expression gives accessibility. Editor: Accessibility and potentially impermanence. It’s drawn on a door—easily erased, transformed. The very act feels performative. There are those who can access high arts through education and status, but chalk knows no barriers! The accessibility in contrast to Matisse as the famous artist! This brings into view themes of authority, authenticity and impermanence, relevant in '39 but especially resonating today with the dominance of ever-changing mass media. Curator: A vital point to consider is indeed the impact of historical moment; however, it’s undeniable the artist seeks visual resonance across epochs and perhaps across generations. The psychological aspect is essential as well when the man gazes into his exaggerated double, a sort of introspection, is the artist playing or seeking answers from within? Editor: A conversation then, isn’t it? The artist and his image, ourselves in our mirrored selves! A truly multilayered piece for consideration that reveals so much about our own contexts in 2024! Curator: An insight I will certainly be taking forward with me when thinking about this!