Henri Matisse’s incomparable colorism and expressive style have long been explored, but what of his interest in words? Matisse once declared that “Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.” In fact, he drew much inspiration from written text, translating linguistic terms into colors and shapes. In the exhibition “Comme un Roman” (Like a Novel), which marks the 150th anniversary of Matisse’s birth, the Centre Pompidou draws together an important selection of the artist’s work. Writers such as Louis Aragon, Georges Duthuit, Dominique Fourcade, Clement Greenberg, and Matisse himself provide insights into the parallels between the visual arts and literature. —E.C.