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Matisse, Blue Nude
© Succession H Matisse/DACS 2010
Blue Nude IV (1952)
Towards the end of his life, Matisse increasingly simplified his art. In a move towards abstraction, he began to use a collage technique, cutting shapes from pre-painted sheets of paper, before assembling them on a pure white background.
This is a prime example of his style, akin to a sculpture in colour, and a playful break from conventional painting.