My husband and I recently visited Philadelphia Museum of Art to experience the Matisse in the 1930s exhibit. Open through Jan. 29, the exhibit is ticketed separately from museum entrance.

The museum was busy on our visit during the holidays. We waited in the quickly moving line for our turn to gaze upon Henri Matisse’s works. The artist achieved popularity by 1930, though he found himself in a creative slump. In fall 1930, the Barnes Foundation commissioned Matisse to decorate its main gallery, then located in Merion, Pennsylvania. The result was The Dance, a stunning mural. The exhibit highlights the artist’s creation of the mural and his subsequent renewed passion. The exhibit boasts Matisse’s works in a variety of formats including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing and illustrated books. Some areas covered in the exhibit include depictions of female models in his studio and renderings of mythological themes.

Admittedly, I did not know much about that time during Matisse’s life. I enjoyed reading more about his art and connection to the Philadelphia area. Seeing the work on display offered further insight into the artist’s life and career.

If you find yourself in Philadelphia before Jan. 29, I highly recommend visiting the exhibit.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director