Pasiphaë, Song of Minos (The Cretans)
Artist: Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954)
Publisher: Martin Fabiani, Paris, 1944
Printer: Fequet et Baudier, Paris
Author: Henri de Montherlant (French, 1896-1972)
Date: 1944
Dimensions:
slipcase: 13 3/4 x 10 1/2 x 1 13/16 in. (350 x 267 x 46 mm);
chemise: 13 3/8 x 10 7/16 x1 5/8 in. (340 x 265 x 42 mm);
book: 13 1/4 x 10 1/16 x 1 9/16 in. (337 x 256 x 40 mm);
page (untrimmed): 12 15/16 x 9 13/16 in. (328 x 249 mm)
Medium: arches cream wove paper
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss
Object number: 1984.732
Label Text:The text was inspired by the myth of King Minos of Crete and his wife Pasiphaé, who was put under a spell by Poseidon and made to fall in love with a beautiful white bull. The Minotaur (with the head of a bull on the body of a man) was their offspring. Matisse's elegant linocut illustrations evoke the sensuality of this passionate story, but he also carefully considered the overall design of the entire book. Matisse wanted to be sure that the black background of the "white line drawings" did not look too funereal and out of balance with the comparatively white page of typography. The wide margins around the text and illustrations unite the two pages, and the red initial letters provide just the balance needed to offset the preponderance of blackink on white.
DescriptionBook with 148 linoleum cuts, most in color. Original prints: 50 linoleum cuts in black or red, plus 1 linoleum cut in blue on the wrappers; plus 97 decorative initials and borders in red. Letterpress in black with red (typeface: Baskerville). Paper watermarked with the publisher’s name.
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In Collection(s)