Great artists throughout history have expressed the human experience in a universal language of form and beauty. The Montblanc Masters of Art Collection honours their eternal contribution to the quest for perfection in art – a quest Montblanc both celebrates and participates in. Henri Matisse is a pivotal figure in the art world of the 20th century, whose revolutionary handling of artistic media helped set the tone for modern art. Respectfully acknowledging the pioneering achievement of this distinguished and fascinating French artist, Montblanc has created the Masters of Art Homage to Henri Matisse Limited Edition 4810. Inspired by Matisse’s vibrant use of colour, the edition features blue and white-coloured lacquer and platinum-coated fittings, reminiscent of his iconic Blue Nude III. What appears at first sight to be an abstract interplay of white and blue is transformed, when the writing instrument is rotated, to reveal the female figure. The generously rounded, almost sculptural shape of the cap is a nod to the pronounced curves of many of Matisse’s sculptures, reflecting his combination of techniques and different means of expression. While the cap top is adorned with blue precious resin encircling the Montblanc emblem made of white precious resin, the decorative pattern on the platinum-coated cone borrows a botanical motif: the elliptical shapes resemble flower petals whose variety of colour and form were a never-ending source of ideas for Matisse. The hand-crafted, rhodium-coated solid Au 750 gold nib is a marriage of nature and art, embossed with two botanical elements reminiscent of The Sheaf, while the interwoven letters ‘H’ and ‘M’ signify the great innovator of the Modernist age. The unusual organic shape of the white lacquered clip is inspired by the multi-coloured arrangement of leaf-like shapes in Matisse’s cut-out, The Sheaf.