Centre Pompidou Co-Publishes Graphic Novel on Matisse's Final Years
On July 7, 2026, the Centre Pompidou announced the publication of "Matisse, le rêve absolu," a graphic novel co-published by Les Arènes and the Éditions du Centre Pompidou. The book, written by Julie Birmant and drawn by Jörg Maillet, with colors by Sandra Desmazières, focuses on the final years of Henri Matisse's life and his groundbreaking gouache-cutout technique. Released earlier this year to coincide with the exhibition "Matisse, 1941-1954" at the Grand Palais, the 24-euro volume presents an intimate view of the artist, highlighting the women—including his wife Amélie, daughter Marguerite, and assistant Lydia Délectorskaya—who shaped his work and emotional world.
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The graphic novel is Birmant's third biographical album featuring a major modern artist, following "Pablo" (2012-2015) and "Dalí" (2023), both drawn by Clément Oubrerie. By foregrounding the female figures in Matisse's orbit, the work challenges conventional narratives of the solitary male genius, a thematic thread the series has consistently explored. For museums and collectors, the publication signals a growing institutional embrace of the graphic-novel format as a tool for art-historical reconsideration, expanding how audiences engage with canonical figures like Matisse.
- Artists: Henri Matisse
- People: Julie Birmant, Jörg Maillet, Sandra Desmazières, Amélie Matisse, Lydia Délectorskaya, Marguerite Matisse, Clément Oubrerie
- Museums: Centre Pompidou, Grand Palais
- Locations: Paris
- Prices: 24 €
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