Matisse "Jazz" at the Des Moines Art Center

In a special exhibit in the original 1948 Des Moines Art Center building designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1947, there are the Matisse "Jazz" prints.  One-hundred prints of the 20 "sculptures" were printed in 1947.   Matisse, 1869-1964, turned to cutting shapes out of brightly painted paper and directing his assistants to create collages when he could no longer paint.  He created this "Jazz" series in France during the WWII German occupation.  The Art Center owns a complete set of the signed first edition of the prints, number 20 of 100.  Some of the prints recreate visions of a circus.  Here are some of my favorites:

"The Clown," plate 1

"The Circus" Plate II

"Monsieur Loyal," Plate III

"The Horse, the Circus Rider, and the Clown," Plate IV

"Icarus," Plate VIII

"The Codomas," Plate XI

"The Swimmer in the Aquarium," Plate XII

"The Cowboy," Plate XIV

"The Knife Thrower," Plate XV

"Destiny," Plate XVI

"The Lagoon," Plate XVIII

"The Lagoon," Plate XIX