The Art Institute of Chicago presents "Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color," an exhibition running from March 7 to June 1, 2026, that showcases Henri Matisse’s iconic 1947 artist book *Jazz* in its entirety for the first time at the museum. Created during Matisse’s later years when he was bedridden after surgery, the 20 cut-paper maquettes were reproduced using pochoir stencil and paired with his own text, capturing memories of Parisian music halls, the circus, and travels to Tahiti. The exhibition also includes over 50 works from the museum’s collection—paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, illustrated books, and textiles—to highlight Matisse’s lifelong exploration of color and line.
This exhibition matters because it offers a rare, comprehensive look at one of the 20th century’s most important *livres d’artiste*, demonstrating how Matisse’s cut-out technique allowed him to "draw with color" and unify line and hue in a revolutionary way. By placing *Jazz* in dialogue with the artist’s broader oeuvre, the show underscores his enduring influence on modern art and provides visitors with a deeper understanding of his innovative process during a period of physical limitation.