Join us Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. for a Legacy Lecture by Christopher C. Gorham about his book Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France. A book signing and reception will follow the presentation.
The Nonhuman Cost of Conflict
In 1940, as Nazi forces shattered France, Henri Matisse faced a profound personal and artistic crisis. Gravely ill, newly separated from his wife, and uncertain of his future, he chose not to flee but to remain in Nice with his companion Lydia Delectorskaya, becoming a quiet symbol of endurance. While spies and partisans fought in the streets, Matisse’s family joined the Resistance in dangerous ways: his son Jean sabotaging the occupiers, his wife Amélie and daughter Marguerite risking their lives in underground networks, his son Pierre helping Jewish artists escape, even his grandson defying Nazi and Vichy authorities.
Against this backdrop of peril and sacrifice, Matisse reinvented his art, pioneering radiant paper cut-outs such as The Fall of Icarus, Monsieur Loyal, his portrait of Charles de Gaulle, and the landmark book Jazz. Drawing on intimate letters and newly explored archives, author Christopher C. Gorham traces how Matisse transformed illness, guilt, and wartime terror into works of fierce beauty, turning imagination itself into a form of resistance. This vivid narrative invites readers to reconsider courage, creativity, and family in an occupied world.
How can I attend?
The event is free to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, or for more information about the event, contact [email protected] or call 540.463.7103, ext. 138.
How can I watch from home?
The presentation will also be livestreamed on the Marshall Foundation YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/2Or0E8D) simultaneously. Viewers of the stream are encouraged to write questions using the live video chat (to the lower right of the video) or via email at [email protected]. Chat will be monitored for abusive comments.
Who is Christopher C. Gorham?
Christopher C. Gorham is a lawyer, educator, and acclaimed author of The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America, about Anna Rosenberg. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Literary Hub, History Now, and elsewhere. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, literary events, classrooms, and book club gatherings around the country. He lives in Boston, and can be found at christophercgorham.com and on social media @christophercgorham.
The George C. Marshall Foundation Legacy Series is sponsored by:
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation; Edward Jones; CornerStone Bank; Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club; Raymond James