Matisse's Stations of the Cross in Vence

Matisse’s Stations of the Cross, currently exhibited at the Baltimore Museum of Art, represents a radical departure from traditional religious iconography. Curator Yve-Alain Bois examines how Matisse, despite his lack of formal religious training, collaborated with Sister Jacques-Marie and Brother Luis Bertrand Rayssiguier to transform the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence. Matisse rejected standard narrative sequences, instead opting for a unified, wall-sized ceramic mural that prioritizes visual impact over linear storytelling. His process relied heavily on muscle memory and deep engagement with historical masters like Mantegna and Fouquet, allowing him to distill complex, violent scenes into highly reductive, abstract forms. The final installation, featuring Arabic numerals for clarity, reflects a deliberate effort to guide the viewer’s gaze while maintaining the emotional weight of the subject through simplified, powerful brushwork.