The Knife Thrower (Le lanceur de couteaux), Plate XV from the illustrated book "Jazz"
Not on view
In this print, Matisse portrayed another dangerous and violent circus act: knife throwing. Represented by the purple figure on the left, and shown against vertical stripes, the knife thrower is composed of sharp angles and jagged edges that echo the outline of his weapon. The target, pale blue and on the right, comprises gentle, undulating lines. Her arms are raised, exposing her body and expressing vulnerability. Matisse employed the heart theme again, telling Lydia Delectorskaya that the decorative forms on the target’s chest represented her "flowery, trusting heart." Similar blue and black shapes create a rhythm and connect the performers with the surrounding space. By using both cut-outs and the paper from which they were created, Matisse demonstrated the flexibility and possibilities of the technique.
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