| The Snail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Henri Matisse |
| Year | 1953 |
| Type | Gouache onpaper |
| Dimensions | 287 cm × 288 cm (112+3⁄4° in × 108 in) |
| Location | Tate Modern,London |
The Snail(L'escargot) is a collage byHenri Matisse. The work was created from summer 1952 to early 1953. It is pigmented withgouache on paper, cut and pasted onto a base layer of white paper measuring 9'43⁄4" × 9' 5" (287 × 288 cm). The piece is in theTate Modern collection inLondon.[1]
It consists of a number of colored shapes arranged in a spiral pattern, as suggested by the title. Matisse first drew the snail, then used the colored paper to interpret it. The composition pairs complementary colors: Matisse gave the work the alternative titleLa Composition Chromatique.[1] From the early-to-mid-1940s Matisse was in increasingly poor health, and was suffering from arthritis. Eventually by 1950 he stopped painting in favor ofgouaches découpées, paper cutouts.[2]The Snail is a major example of this final body of works.
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