Matisse, Henri. (1869-1954) Important Wartime Autograph Letter

Matisse, Henri. (1869-1954)

Important Wartime Autograph Letter

An important wartime autograph letter from the great artist to Raymond Escholier, director of the Paris Musée du Petit Palais and Matisse's biographer. Dated Nice, August 31, 1940, the letter details the last part of Matisse's difficult journey from Paris - where he had been visiting when the Nazi invasion occurred on June 14 - back to his home in Nice. Matisse writes of his troubled state of mind and the unrest in his city: "It was easier to put my spirit into my work in St-Gaudens and in St-Jean-de-Luz than here, where I find myself again within walls in which I have known outside peace. I must also say that I am close, very close, to restless neighbors who could occupy Nice at the drop of a hat." After describing the difficulties he had traveling from St-Gaudens to Nice, via Carcassonne and Marseille, Matisse goes on thank Escholier for looking after a sculpture: "Thank you for the work you have done for my fragment of the young greek woman -- when it becomes troublesome, let me know, and I will send it to my other boarding house." He concludes the letter hoping to hear from Escholier soon: "At the moment it is good not to feel too alone..." Full text below. 2 pp. Folding creases; otherwise in very fine condition. 8.5 x 10 inches (21.2 x 25 cm). Together with a modern postcard photograph of the artist.

Matisse was in Paris when the German occupation began. Already suffering from what would soon turn out to be abdominal cancer, he fled with his assistant and muse Lydia Delectorskaya for Bordeaux and then for the southwestern coastal town of St Jean de Luz. From there, they made their way eastwards to Nice via the town of St-Gaudens. Matisse had considered fleeing France for Brazil, but as he wrote in a letter to his son on September 1, "It seemed to me as if I would be deserting...If everyone who has any value leaves France, what remains of France?" Although Matisse remained fairly isolated in southern France during the war years, several members of his family were actively involved in the Resistance.

Raymond Escholier served as the director of the Maison Victor Hugo and, from 1930, the Musée du Petit Palais in Paris. A champion of contemporary painting, in 1937 he published Henri Matisse, an hommage to his friend featuring a short biography, color plates, and new quotations from the artist. At the outbreak of World War II, Escholier arranged for the evacuation of the most valuable works in his museum and took refuge himself in the southern town of Mirepoix, where he served on the local government.

Translated from the French, in full:
Dear Mr. Escholier,
I arrived in Nice two days ago and found here your card from last August 10th. My return was quite difficult. I was very happy to learn that you have your two sons. They will begin their lives again with courage, like everyone. It is apparently quite difficult, I know something of it; every instant one is tempted to hear a voice that says: 'Why? Has the catastrophe not yet swallowed us?' It was easier to put my spirit into my work in St-Gaudens and in St-Jean-de-Luz than here, where I find myself again within walls in which I have known outside peace. I must also say that I am close, very close, to restless neighbors who could occupy Nice at the drop of a hat. I have the Commission d'Armistice a few steps from my door, and they are not [accommodating?], it seems.
You were very kind to have suggested a stop in Mirepoix rather than at Carcassonne Terminus -- but I stopped there because a car was willing to take me on its way to Narbonne. The trains were impossible, all arriving full in St-Gaudens. I was at the station twice and had to return to the horrible hotel in St-Gaudens - where I made a [...] with stone a few days before - and I returned annoyed to Carcassonne not knowing when I would be able to leave. Finally I got a couchette and made it to Marseille, where I stayed for a week with a little boy of eight years leaving for New York -- accompanied by an American landlady (leaving from Lisbon, with who-knows-how-many steps in Marseille). Finally, here I am in Nice -- where I need to recover my equilibrium. Thank you for the work you have done for my fragment of the young greek woman -- when it becomes troublesome, let me know, and I will send it to my other boarding house. I hope not to remain without news of you; at the moment it is good not to feel too alone, so I propose to write you another line soon. With my best wishes for you and yours, I send you, dear Mr. Escholier, my best regards.
Henri Matisse

Cher Monsieur Escholier,
Je suis arrivé à Nice il y deux jours et j'y ai trouvé votre carte du 10 aout dernier - mon retour a été assez difficile - J'ai été très heureux d'apprendre que vous avez vos deux fils - Ils vont reprendre la vie comme tous avec courage - C'est évidemment assez dur j'en sais quelque chose et a chaque instant on est tenté d'écouter une voix qui vous dit: "Pourquoi! C'est que la catastrophe n'est pas encore avalée - il m'étais plus facile de mettre mon esprit au travail a St-Gaudens de meme a St Jean de Luz qu'ici ou je me retrouve dans des murs dans lesquel j'ai connu la paix exterieure - Il faut dire aussi que je suis près, très près, de voisins turbulents qui pourraient pour un oui ou un non occuper Nice. J'ai la Commision d'armistice a deux pas de chez moi, et ceux qui la composent ne sont pas [commods?] parait-il.
Vous avez été bien gentil en ayant decidé? pour moi un arret à Mirepoix plutôt qu'à Carcassonne ?? Terminus - mais je m'y suis arrêté parce qu'une voiture a bien voulu me prendre sur sa route pour Narbonne - les trains étaient impossibles, arrivant complets à St-Gaudens - j'ai été deux fois à la gare et ai dû revenir à l'hôtel bien mauvais de St-Gaudens où j'ai fait une [enterits?] avec pierre quelques jours avant - et je suis rentré aloqué à Carcassonne non sachant quand j'en pourrais partir - finalement j'ai pu avoir une couchette et arriver à Marseille ou je suis resté une semaine avec un petit fils de 8 ans partant a N. York - en compagnie d'une maitresse de pension americaine - (depart de Lisbonne, après combien de démarches à Marseille) - Enfin me voici a Nice - où j'ai besoin de reprendre mon équilibre. Je vous remercie de la travail? que vous avez fait à mon fragment de jeune grecque - quand vous en serez embarrassé veuillez m'en prevenir je l'enverrai dans mon autre pension. J'espère ne pas rester sans nouvelles de vous - en ce moment il est bon de ne pas se sentir trop seul ainsi je me propose de vous écrire un mot quand ça ira pour moi- Avec mes bons souhaits pour vous et les vôtres je vous envoie cher Monsieur Escholier mes bonnes amities.
Henri Matisse (14193)

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