The exhibition Matisse in his Time, and this accompanying catalogue, presents a selection of works belonging to the Musee national d'art moderne at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The masterpieces gathered here are presented in the artistic context of their time, and compared with other masterpieces from the same collection - Picasso to Viallat passing by Braque, Leger, Dufy, Renoir and Bonnard. What is being proposed here is not, therefore, the master of Dance isolated in his ivory tower, but a Matisse in connection with his time, through his friendships, the abundant and fruitful exchanges with his contemporaries.