I went to the Matisse show in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I'd read some reviews, and was expecting a major show. I was really surprised by the painful lack of quality in the paintings and prints. Out of 100 or so pictures there were a handful of quality, and none were really first rate.

This is not a critique of the show. It may be the intent was to show the painful way Matisse reacted to the "more modern" cubism. It is really interesting to see how his later path was not an obvious development. It was also really fun to see the large De Heem (free) copy, I don't think I've seen it before. It is quite large, and rather impressive, perhaps something of a tour de force in re-imagining the design. But it is also somewhat cold, with a certain "it's a copy" lifelessness.

My reason for writing is surprise that I was surprised. Did everyone writing about the exhibit really like the paintings? Were they afraid to invite the public to view 100 of Matisse's ugliest paintings?

So if you did go to this show, now you've been warned.