Interior with Egyptian Curtain, 1948. © 2012 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Yesterday the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened Matisse: In Search of True Painting, an exhibit that looks at the acclaimed artist’s painting process. Though most of think of him as a modern art master, in truth painting did not come easy to him. During his career he often questioned, repainted and reevaluated his work, and often used his canvases to compare effects and gauge his progress, resulting in pairs, trios and series of works.

To really see how this process played out in his work, the MET has put together a collection of 49 coloured canvases that reveal just that, including Still Life with Purro I and Still Life with Purro II that show how he was intrigued and influenced by both Cezanne and Signac. Other notable pieces in the exhibit include the life-size nudes in Le Luxe I and Le Luxe II, as well Interior with an Egyptian Curtain, which displayed the reoccurring motifs he toyed with.

Organized by Rebecca Rabinow, Curator for the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the MET, the exhibit will run from now until March 17, 2013. A audio guide also accompanies the tour for $7.

Where to Find:
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street)
New York, NY 10028
metmuseum.org