"Henri Mattisse and Pablo Picasso were friends and rivals for nearly 50 years, from their first meeting in Paris around 1906 until Matisse's death in 1954." This is a quote from the handout booklet at the Museum of Modern Art's (MOMA) exhibit in Long Island City sponsored by Merrill Lynch.

These two great rivals had entirely different personalities, but as Matisse stated, they were "strangely in agreement" as artists. While Matisse was a family man with good manners, Picasso was a wild, free-spirited fountain of passion and fire.

The curators of this exhibition deserve great accolades for conceiving and putting together this show. The genius of placing side by side paintings and sculptures of each artist is very intellectually satisfying to the viewer. The two artists actually called their competition a "dialogue." I would advise all viewers to rent the audio explanation device. It explains easily what the average museum-goer might miss.

Side by side we see Matisse's Le Lux 1 (done in 1907) and Picasso's Boy Leading a Horse (1905). The technical aspects are discussed and similarities are pointed out. Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) is a breakthrough painting in the entire world of art. Its five nude bathing women in fractured planes and mask-like heads was Picasso's bold attempt to portray African art. Mattisse countered with Bathers with a Turtle (1908) which showed more European tendencies.

Other dramatic pairings of paintings included the Cubist Woman in Yellow (1907) by Picasso and the stunningly simple Portrait of Madame Matisse of 1913.

Also, Picasso's Harlequin (1915) was painted in answer to Goldfish and Palette by Matisse. As one walks through the exhibition you can feel the tension between these friendly competitors. It adds enormous spice to the experience. In the Studio, quai Saint-Michel (1916), Matisse uses a model Lorette and a view of outside his studio. Picasso rarely used models and his Painter and Model (1928) with fractured images is his answer to Matisse. Matisse's Lorette in Green Robe against a Black Background (1916) is dazzling as is Seated Women (1920) by Picasso.

The 1920s and '30s found the two artists in different areas of France, Picasso in Paris and Matisse in Nice. Surrealism divided the two great artists even more. Picasso's work Woman in an Armchair (1927) has no easily recognizable figure, while Matisse's Decorative Figure on an Ornamental Background (1925) is probably the most lush and beautiful painting (in my opinion) at the exhibition. Picasso distorted the women in his painting while Matisse glorified them in color, plump flesh and sexiness.

Both men remained in France during the German occupation, Picasso in Paris and Matisse in Nice. After the war Picasso joined Matisse in the South of France. They still remained "friendly competitors."

They both continued painting and producing sculptures. When Matisse died on Nov. 3, 1954, Picasso stated, "I continue his work."

When Picasso died in 1973 the rivalry did not end. The brilliant curators of the major museums of the world in Paris, London and New York have assembled the most meaningful and spiritual exhibition of art I have ever encountered. Go and see it! Reservations needed.

Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)