Pasiphaë, Song of Minos (The Cretans)

Artist Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954)

Publisher Martin Fabiani, Paris, 1944

Author Henri de Montherlant (French, 1896-1972)

Date1944

Dimensionsslipcase: 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)

Mediumarches cream wove paper

ClassificationBooks

Credit LineGift of Molly and Walter Bareiss

Object number

1984.732

Not on View

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.

Label TextThe text was inspired by the myth of King Minos of Crete and his wife Pasiphaë, 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 linoleum cut 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 black ink on white.Published ReferencesSymmes, Marilyn, "Illustrated books at The Toledo Museum of Art," The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda arts, Miami, Winter 1988, pp. 70--71, reprs.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 326, repr. (col.).

Rogers Lalaurie, Louise, Matisse: The Books, London, Thames & Hudson Ltd., 2020, pp. 172-199, repr. (col.).

Exhibition History

Toledo, The Toledo Museum of Art, The Bareiss Collection of Modern Illustrated Books from Toulouse-Lautrec to Kiefer, 1984, no. 44, repr.

Toledo, The Toledo Museum of Art, Classical inspirations, 1995 (no cat.).

Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, Looks Good on Paper: Masterworks and Favorites, Oct. 10, 2014-Jan. 11, 2015.

Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, Drawn from Classicism: Modern Artists’ Books, September 9-December 10, 2017.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Garvey, Eleanor, The Artist & the Book, 1860-1960, Boston, 1961, no. 198, repr.

See also Duthuit, Claude, Henri Matisse: Catalogue raisonné des ouvrages illustrés, Paris, 1988, no. 10, reprs.

See also Strachan, W. J., The Artist and the Book in France; The 20th Century livre d'artiste, New York, 1969, p. 338, reprs.

See also Hogben, Carol, Rowan Watson, editors, From Manet to Hockney: Modern Artists’ Illustrated Books, London, 1985, no. 112, reprs.

See also Castleman, Riva, A Century of Artists Books, New York, 1994, p. 113