Overview

Between 1946 and 1953, Henri Matisse created 28 lithographic portraits for Poésies Antillaises (Antillean Poetry), a book of poems by John-Antoine Nau. Published posthumously in 1972, this rare volume remains one of Matisse’s least-known illustrated works.

Inspired by his brief 1930 visit to Martinique, Matisse translated Nau’s evocative poems—celebrating travel, music, and oceanic landscapes—into vibrant portraits. These reflect the artist’s collaborations with notable Caribbean and international models and are presented alongside works by two leading artists from Martinique and Guadeloupe, Germaine Casse and Serge Hélénon. This focus exhibition illuminates aspects of the transatlantic artistic circles active during the late French colonial period.

Guest curated by Dr. Denise Murrell, Merryl H. and James S. Tisch Curator at Large, Office of the Director, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and former Inaugural Fellow of the Ruth R. Marder Center for Matisse Studies at the BMA (2022–2025).

This exhibition is supported by The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation and Nancy Dorman and Stanley Mazaroff.