John Stomberg

Although Ellsworth Kelly and Henri Matisse never met in person, their shared dedication to drawing and the art of “seeing” often provokes comparison. Inviting Kelly to play the role of curator provides fresh insights to this established dialogue. This beautifully illustrated catalogue documents two parallel exhibitions presented at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, highlighting masterful works on paper by both artists.
“Forty-five of [Matisse’s drawings] are on display in a show more ravishing show at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. . . . Apart from a chance to see works that even Matisse scholars have barely had a chance to comb over, what gives the show its special, intimate appeal is that the drawings were selected and installed by one of the world’s greatest living artists, Ellsworth Kelly.”—Sebastien Smee, Boston Globe show less