I enjoyed this exhibition at the Tate Modern – it is the largest (temporary) collection of the cut-outs from the end of Matisse’s career, with nearly 120 pieces brought together. 

The exhibition is stupendous – it takes up several rooms at the Tate Modern, with several works taking up entire walls. It is a breath-taking testament to the prolific body of work Matisse produced, even when ill and having to use a wheelchair.

This is such a huge bringing-together of his works from this period of his art, that I had my usual “brain overload” at the exhibition: there is just too much to take in an appreciate all at once. I resorted to allowing myself to simply absorb the images and the impression of their colours and shapes, without focusing too much on the academic. 

The artworks are flanked by other elements that bring to life a sense of what his creativity was like. As well as numerous photos, we see swatches of the papers he hand-painted in multitudes of colours, for use in his cut-out artworks, and fascinating film footage with mesmerizing shots of his scissors slicing through the paper and his assistants following his instructions.

Matisse: The Cut Outs is at Tate Modern, Southbank, London until 7 September 2014.