The Art Institute unveils Matisse's Jazz in its entirety for the first time since 1948

The Art Institute of Chicago opened Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color, on view March 7 through June 1, 2026. Jazz includes 20 color plates and text by Matisse and is one of the most important artist books from the 20th century, and this presentation marks the first time it has been on view in its entirety since its acquisition in 1948. The exhibition also includes more than 50 works by Matisse from across the Art Institute’s collection, exploring the famed artist’s commitment across his 50-year career to continual innovation and the expressive power of color and line. In the early 1940s, decades into his artistic career, Matisse became bedridden and unable to paint following a surgery. He turned his focus to cut paper, which allowed him to continue to create art, including Jazz. These vibrant original compositions were then faithfully reproduced using stencil and combined with