The Lagoon II (1947) (Jazz Folio) by Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse – The Lagoon II (1947) (Jazz Folio) Prints

Bring the vivid colour and flowing organic forms of Henri Matisse’s celebrated Jazz portfolio into your home with a Henri Matisse The Lagoon II print. Published in 1947 as Plate XVIII of Jazz, The Lagoon II (Le Lagon) is the second of three closely related Lagoon compositions in which Matisse transformed aquatic and botanical inspiration into an exuberant arrangement of colour and abstract form.

Available as fine art prints and canvas panels, The Lagoon II combines a brilliant green field with sweeping magenta, white and black shapes, framed by contrasting bands of blue and turquoise. The result is energetic yet beautifully balanced, demonstrating Matisse’s extraordinary ability to suggest natural movement through the simplest possible visual language.

The Second of Matisse’s Three Lagoon Compositions

The Lagoon II appears as Plate XVIII in Matisse’s Jazz portfolio and forms the central work in a sequence of three related compositions. The Lagoon I appears immediately before it as Plate XVII, while The Lagoon III follows as Plate XIX.

Across the three works, Matisse repeatedly rearranged a vocabulary of curving, branching and floating forms. Rather than simply reproducing one design, he altered their positions, colours and relationships, creating three variations that can be appreciated independently or together as a visual sequence.

In The Lagoon II, the brilliant green background gives the composition a particularly fresh and energetic character. A serpentine magenta form travels across the upper section, while a complex black motif stretches horizontally below it. Large areas of white weave between the coloured shapes, creating the impression of movement and open space.

Painting Style

An Abstract Vision of an Underwater World

The forms in The Lagoon II are highly simplified, yet their inspiration remains closely connected with the natural world. Matisse repeatedly drew upon leaves, flowers, algae, coral and other organic forms when developing his late paper cut-outs.

The black branching shape can suggest aquatic vegetation or coral, while the long magenta form has the fluid quality of seaweed drifting in a current. The surrounding white shapes appear to flow through the image like channels of water or open spaces between floating organisms.

Matisse deliberately leaves these forms open to interpretation. The work never becomes a literal underwater scene; instead, natural shapes are transformed into an abstract composition governed by rhythm, colour and balance.

Drawing with Scissors

The designs for Jazz grew from Matisse’s revolutionary experiments with gouache-painted paper cut-outs. Assistants prepared sheets of paper painted in intense colours, which Matisse then cut directly with scissors and arranged into compositions.

He described this method as “drawing with scissors”. Cutting directly into colour allowed him to create the edge of a form and its coloured surface simultaneously, bringing drawing and painting together in a single action.

The Lagoon II shows how expressive this technique could become. Its broad curves, irregular edges and organic silhouettes have an immediacy that feels spontaneous, yet their placement is carefully controlled to create an exceptionally balanced design.

Colour and Movement in The Lagoon II

Colour is central to the impact of The Lagoon II. The expansive green field establishes the dominant atmosphere, while magenta, black, blue and turquoise create strong contrasts across the composition.

The magenta form moves horizontally like a visual current, while the black shapes below provide greater weight and complexity. The blue and turquoise bands at either side help contain the composition and reinforce its sense of structure.

Equally important are the areas where no coloured paper appears. These pale negative spaces flow between the stronger shapes and become active parts of the composition rather than merely empty background. This balance of colour and open space gives the work its distinctive sense of movement and clarity.

The Lagoon Sequence and the Rhythm of Jazz

The title Jazz does not mean that every image in Matisse’s portfolio depicts music or musicians. Instead, the name reflects qualities such as improvisation, rhythm, repetition and variation that run throughout the series.

The three Lagoon compositions demonstrate this idea particularly clearly. Related shapes return from one plate to another but are reorganised into different combinations, much as a musical phrase might be repeated and transformed during an improvisation.

The Lagoon II occupies the middle position in this sequence, providing a visual bridge between the first and third compositions while retaining its own distinctive arrangement and colour relationships.

From Cut-Paper Composition to the 1947 Jazz Folio

Matisse developed the cut-paper compositions that would become Jazz during the 1940s. The completed artist’s book was published in Paris in 1947 by Tériade and contained twenty brilliantly coloured plates accompanied by Matisse’s handwritten text.

For publication, the colours of the original painted-paper designs were reproduced using the pochoir stencil process. This painstaking method enabled the printed plates to retain much of the intensity and flatness of Matisse’s gouache-painted papers.

Jazz became one of the defining projects of Matisse’s late career and an important stage in the development of the monumental paper cut-outs he would create during his final years.

The Lagoon II Wall Art for Modern Interiors

A Henri Matisse The Lagoon II wall art print makes a particularly strong choice for interiors where vivid colour and clean modernist design are desired. Its bright green background creates immediate impact, while the sweeping organic forms prevent the composition from feeling rigid or overly geometric.

The work is especially well suited to contemporary, Scandinavian, mid-century modern and eclectic interiors. Against white, cream, beige or putty-coloured walls, the saturated green, magenta and blue tones become a striking focal point.

Displayed above a sofa, console table, sideboard or bed, a The Lagoon II Matisse print introduces movement and personality to the room. It also works exceptionally well alongside The Lagoon I and The Lagoon III, allowing the complete three-part Lagoon sequence from Jazz to be displayed together.

About Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter, draughtsman, sculptor and printmaker whose radical exploration of colour and form made him one of the most influential artists of twentieth-century modernism.

Matisse first achieved international recognition as the leading figure associated with Fauvism. His paintings of the early twentieth century rejected conventional naturalistic colour in favour of brilliant hues selected for their expressive and compositional effect.

Throughout his career, Matisse progressively simplified his visual language. Figures, interiors, landscapes and natural forms were increasingly reduced to flowing contours and broad areas of colour.

During the 1940s, physical limitations encouraged him to work extensively with painted paper and scissors. What initially developed as a practical method of composing became an independent artistic medium capable of producing some of the most innovative work of his career.

The Jazz portfolio represents a crucial stage in this development. Its brilliant colour, simplified forms and rhythmic arrangements anticipated the monumental cut-outs of Matisse’s final years, including the Blue Nudes and The Snail.

Today, Henri Matisse prints remain especially popular for their combination of major art-historical significance, extraordinary colour and an enduring visual simplicity that complements contemporary interiors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lagoon II by Henri Matisse?

The Lagoon II is the second of three related Lagoon (Le Lagon) compositions included in Henri Matisse’s celebrated Jazz portfolio.

What plate number is The Lagoon II in Jazz?

The Lagoon II is Plate XVIII of the twenty colour plates in Jazz. The Lagoon I is Plate XVII and The Lagoon III is Plate XIX.

When was The Lagoon II published?

The Lagoon II was published in 1947 as part of Matisse’s Jazz artist’s book. The cut-paper compositions on which the published designs were based were developed several years earlier.

What is the French title of The Lagoon II?

The French title is Le Lagon. The three related Lagoon compositions are generally distinguished by their sequence or by their respective plate numbers within Jazz.

What does The Lagoon II depict?

The work is abstract but clearly inspired by organic and aquatic forms. Its curving shapes can suggest algae, seaweed, coral and other marine life moving through an underwater environment.

How did Henri Matisse create The Lagoon II?

Matisse developed the composition using paper painted with gouache, which he cut into shapes with scissors and arranged into a design. The image was subsequently reproduced for the published Jazz portfolio using the pochoir stencil process.

Why are there three Lagoon works in Jazz?

The three Lagoon compositions allowed Matisse to explore variation and repetition. Similar organic shapes appear in changing arrangements and colour combinations, creating a visual equivalent of a musical theme being repeatedly reinterpreted.

Can The Lagoon I, II and III be displayed together?

Yes. Because the three works were conceived as closely related compositions within the same section of Jazz, they make a particularly effective group. Displayed together, they reveal how Matisse transformed similar shapes through changes in colour, position and rhythm.

What interiors suit a The Lagoon II print?

The Lagoon II works particularly well in contemporary, Scandinavian, mid-century modern and eclectic interiors. Its vivid green field and flowing coloured forms can provide a strong focal point against neutral walls.

Is The Lagoon II available as a canvas panel?

GalleryThane offers The Lagoon II as fine art prints and canvas panels, providing different ways to display this vibrant work from Henri Matisse’s celebrated Jazz portfolio.

All orders for unframed fine art prints and original paintings are dispatched within 2 working days of receipt of payment.

Orders for custom framed prints are dispatched within 4 working days.

All orders are fully tracked from dispatch to delivery at your home or business.

All print and original painting orders are fully insured against loss or damage in transit. We refund or replace any damaged or lost orders.

Buy with confidence - read what our satisfied customers have to say - Reviews

Fine art papers are printed without any additional white border Please let us know at the time of ordering if you would like a small additional white border.

Rolled canvas options have an additional white border of approximately 2.5 inches (7cm) on all 4 sides to aid stretching.

Ready to hang canvas panels are stretched on 1.5 inch deep solid pine frames from sustainable forestry sources. The image is mirrored on all 4 sides to give an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Why not have us gift wrap your order and attach a personalised message to the recipient. Available for all orders. Each order is hand wrapped in high quality gift wrap with meatllic ribbon and bow. Your personalised message is printed on a card which is included with your order.

Have your hand wrapped gift delivered directly to the recipient.

Full tracking and insurance included with every order.

Please note design may vary depending upon availability

Just purchase the gift wrap option HERE