A perfect synthesis of colour and line Matisse at eighty, master of painting and sculpture, used colour as a sculptor uses stone. His unique venture took the art world by storm. The improvisations in colour and rhythm, created with gouached paper and scissors, marked the culmination of his artistic ambition - a perfect synthesis of colour and line. About the Series: Each book in TASCHEN s Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions "