From his earliest pointillist-influenced paintings to this mature and playful paper cut-outs; from enormous, ebullient murals to reverent stained glass--Henri Matisse was renowned for his dramatic use of color and fluid draftsmanship. Thirty of Matisse´s most beloved works are given close attention in this introduction that explores the varying tensions of the artist´s oeuvre--his embrace of pure color, patterns, and texture; the languorous pleasures of the Cote d´Azur; primitive displays of human ecstasy; tranquil scenes of domestic life and soaring monuments to religious life. An engaging biography takes readers through every phase of Matisse´s career and reveals how his aversion to troubling or depressing subject matter was in direct opposition to the radical spirit of his work.