The last day in Paris was bittersweet. It was cold after much milder winter weather. We took a cab to the Hotel des Marronniers in Saint Germain our favorite walking area where charming shops of home good, arts, books and other intrigues line the streets. Early the next morning we ate breakfast on the terrace, We caught a cab at 8:30 am to the airport for 70 euros and flew home on a calm sunny day. We stayed at Hyatt Regency in the Dulles area on the tenth floor and went to bed at 7 pm. I woke up at 4:45 quite refreshed and opened the window to see the setting Moon.
In 1930, Matisse went on a 9 month trips around the world. He didn’t paint or sketch but took about 50 photos. He returned to France where he received a commission to paint a mural for the Barnes Foundation. His work intentionally became more decorative. He worked with photography to document the way he transformed and rework a single painting. He intentionally stayed in France as 1940 began and concentrated on painting as World War II raged on for five years.
