Henri Matisse painted and painted. You’d say that is exactly what all painters do. But our subject today is a virtuoso so fascinated by the charm of his own daughter that he kept himself busy creating and recreating her images practically all his life.

The Modern Art Museum in Paris is currently presenting a unique exhibition of the works by Matisse (1869-1954), one of the most celebrated French artists of the last century, bringing together more than a hundred of his works — paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, as well as ceramics. A large number of these works are inspired by the charm of his own daughter, Marguerite.

Marguerite remained a key influence on her father’s work and the current exhibition features many of her portraits that have never been publicly displayed before. These works have been brought to Paris from museums across the globe, as well as from private American, Swiss and Japanese collections.

However, what makes this exhibition even more interesting is that it is not limited to Matisse’s own paintings and sketches but includes a number of works created by Marguerite herself — as if in competition with her father.

An exhibition in Paris sheds light on a subject Henri Matisse continuously depicted in his works — his daughter

From her early childhood, Marguerite remained the preferred model for Matisse, and her portraits reflect the rare and intense affection he had for his daughter. In his words, “Only by painting Marguerite’s portraits do I succeed in exposing not simply her complete personality but, at the same time, my own as well.”

After seeing these works, it is easy to understand Matisse’s claim as one is unable to ignore the fact that, much more than artistic creations, they are a proof of the emotional bond between a father and his daughter. These beautifully rendered, personal and evocative works allow the visitors to grasp the immense love and respect they shared with each other.

The eldest of Matisse’s three children, Marguerite grew up with her two brothers, Jean and Pierre. In her diary, she describes her family as “five restless fingers of art who moved and moved, painted and painted…never getting tired all life.”

‘Matisse and Marguerite — Through Her Father’s Eyes’ is on display
at the Modern Art Museum in Paris from April 4-August 24, 2025

The writer is an art critic based in Paris. He can be
reached at zafmasud@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, August 24th, 2025