On the occasion of the Biennale of Arts and the Ocean in Nice, the Matisse Museum is presenting a unique exhibition highlighting Henri Matisse’s Mediterranean work.
It’s a major event for the city of Nice and a profound tribute to one of its artists most connected to the Mediterranean. For this 2025 Biennale, whose theme is dedicated to the ocean, the Matisse Museum explores the artist’s works from a maritime perspective.
“Matisse was inspired by the sea, the blue, the light. He was a man from the North who found a revelation in the Mediterranean,” declared Christian Estrosi at the inauguration. He emphasized “the intense research work carried out with Matisse’s heirs and the museum teams” to build a unique exhibition.
Windows to the Sea
Among the highlights of the exhibition, an entire room is dedicated to Matisse’s famous open windows. These works are emblematic of his Nice period. Indeed, the artist lived in Nice from 1917 until the end of his life in 1954. These works reflect the painter’s fascination with marine landscapes and the Mediterranean horizon.
The poet Louis Aragon wrote: “In Nice, there are windows that look at the sea the way Matisse looks at life.”
Rare documents are available throughout the exhibition. Notably, an agenda note from 1948, highlighting a deep connection between the artist, Nice, and the sea. Seventy years after his death, Matisse’s work has never seemed more relevant. “He was ahead of his time, even last century, to awaken consciousness to the fragile beauty of the oceans,” confides the mayor of Nice.
A Biennale in Transition
The 2025 edition marks a turning point. For the first time, a single theme is imposed: the ocean. This choice, far from being a mere convenience, “is a conviction,” asserts the cultural direction of the city. “We protect what we care about,” adds Christian Estrosi.
This year, the Biennale moves into the public space, with six internationally renowned artists showcasing their work in the streets of Nice. It’s a significant novelty and a first for Nice. The Matisse Museum is also tackling this maritime theme in depth for the first time, revealing exceptional works from its collections and loans made for the occasion.
A Shared Vision
The project involved numerous stakeholders, all graciously acknowledged, including the Scèno agency for scenography, the transport company, technical service providers, the Matisse Museum teams, not to mention the Beau Rivage Hotel, which is a place of memory for the artist. “To evoke the sea, the oceans, Matisse was needed, this luminous adventurer,” recalled Christian Estrosi.
The artist Francis Ponge is quoted to emphasize the beauty of the sea and the need for its protection: “For those born not far from the Mediterranean, there is no doubt: Beauty exists. And what madness to live far from it! What madness, what absurdity to exile oneself from it!”
