A superb edition of one of the pre-eminent artists’ books in the history of modern art, an essential collectable. Illustrated in colour and black and white throughout.

Jazz is regarded as one of Matisse’s greatest achievements, its original illustrations still exhibited as significant works in their own right.

By 1947, Matisse – in his seventies and suffering poor health – much preferred the simple, fluid act of cutting forms from painted paper to drawing or painting. It was his intention to use this assemblage technique to illustrate a collection of poems, which would be printed as a limited edition book. Matisse’s notes, written with a paintbrush in looping letters, became integral, and the publisher agreed that they should replace the poems. They appear here in their original ‘rough’ form, creating a visual counterpoint to the images.

This edition is accompanied by a special book mounted on the reverse of the presentation box’s cover, featuring both a translation of Matisse’s text and two new essays: one examining Jazz’s principal place among other artists’ books; the other surveying the history of artist’ books as a field. Any admirer of modern art (or indeed bookmaking) will be proud to own a reproduction with such uncompromising production qualities throughout.

Francesco Poli teaches History of Contemporary Art at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan, Italy. Corrado Mingardi is the author of Parole disegnate, parole dipinte: La collezione Mingardi di libri d’artista.