In the text, John Elderfield, reviews the range and depth of Matisse's achievement and examines the critical issues surrounding his art, arriving at the new and sometimes surprising interpretations of its intentions and meanings. Elderfield outlines the history of critical opinion of Matisse's work as it has contributed to our understanding of modern art as a whole, and explores the artist's own conception of his purposes. 480 pp.; 592 illus. Published in 1992 and edited by John Elderfield, this rare book from MoMA Publications is available in extremely limited quantities. Each book from this special selection has been stored for decades in MoMA’s warehouse. MoMA’s award-winning publications program has been an integral part of the Museum’s mission since its founding in 1929. These exhibition- and collection-related titles are renowned for their high production values. Please note that the cover photo is for reference only and does not reflect the actual condition of the book being sold.