The Art of Vanishing

A Novel

By: Morgan Pager

Narrated by: Jarman Day, Jennifer Jill Araya, Morgan Pager

A stunningly original love story between a museum employee and the man in a masterpiece hanging on the walls—a breathtaking debut about time, art, and the enduring power of love.

“This wildly inventive, deeply moving novel blurs the line between art and those who behold it.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

Something magical is happening inside this museum. . . .

Jean’s life is the same day in and day out. Frozen in time by his painter father, the legendary Henri Matisse, Jean observes the ebb and flow of museum guests as they take in the works of his father and other masters like Renoir, Picasso, and Modigliani. But his world takes a mesmerizing turn when Claire, a new museum employee, enters his life.

Night after night, Claire moves through the gallery where Jean’s painting hangs, mopping the floors, talking softly to herself to stem her loneliness, and gazing admiringly at the masterpieces above. The alluring man in the corner of the Matisse—is he watching her? Why does she feel a deepening pull to him, like he can see her truest self, her most profound secrets? Did he just move?

In an extraordinary twist of fate, Claire discovers she can step through the frame of Jean’s painting and into a bygone era, a lush, verdant snapshot of family life in France in the throes of the First World War. She and Jean begin a seemingly impossible affair, falling in love against the backdrop of the gallery’s other paintings come to life—glittering parties, exhilarating horse races, and windswept beach bluffs—which they can move through together and where Claire is seemingly the only outside visitor, alone in possession of this gift.

But as their happiness is threatened by challenges both inside and outside the museum, Claire and Jean find themselves in a fight to preserve the love they’ve hardly dared to dream of. Will their extraordinary connection defy the confines of reality, or will the forces conspiring against them shatter their carefully curated happiness?

Critic reviews

“Wow! This enchanting, genre-defying novel bends time and reality with effortless grace, creating a romantic journey as mesmerizing as the art itself and the history behind it. Pager’s debut left me spellbound.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

“This wildly inventive, deeply moving novel blurs the line between art and those who behold it—reminding us that even those of us outside a frame now know what it was like for time to freeze in the world. . . . A true triumph.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

“Wow! This enchanting, genre-defying novel bends time and reality with effortless grace, creating a romantic journey as mesmerizing as the art itself and the history behind it. Pager’s debut left me spellbound.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

“If you love art history and the nostalgia of the Night at the Museum movies, pick this one up. . . . Ssuch a fun, escapist read for the summer.”—theSkimm

“Whimsical and beguiling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“You’ll never look at a museum the same way again after reading this imaginative book.”—Today

“Pager debuts with the charming story of a magical portal between a 1917 Matisse painting and present-day Philadelphia. . . . There’s plenty here to admire.”—Publishers Weekly

“Charming, playful, and wondrously romantic, The Art of Vanishing is a love letter to artwork, museums, and the ways our world expands when someone truly sees us.”—Daria Lavelle, author of Aftertaste

“With irrepressible whimsy and a premise so original it enchants you instantly, The Art of Vanishing is a magical debut. Part love story, part heist, Morgan Pager’s novel is the perfect portal fantasy for anyone who has ever wandered a museum and wondered about the worlds, works, and lives on display. I flew through the pages and fell hard for this imaginative jewel.”—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

“An enchanting tale of art, love, and the delicate dance between reality and illusion . . . a mystery, a love story, and a timeless exploration of art and its origins . . . You will never look at a painting or at love the same way again. Pager gifts us with an unforgettable journey capturing the magic that lives between logic and imagination.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Magical, Inventive, Artsy Fun

The premise alone was enough to hook me and the rest of the story did not disappoint! I find myself walking through my life wondering what the main characters would think about random things. Always a sign of a good read.

Magical Love Story - Beat of Summer '25

I LOVED this amazing story. What a find!!!! Thank you Morgan Pager for giving us the Beat Read of the Summer

Great love story

Loved the performance. Very well a written and read. Characters are endearing and easy to love.

Disappointing

I had high hopes for this book because I’ve enjoyed following the author on Instagram and the premise sounded intriguing. I was quite honestly rather bored by it. The romance wasn’t terribly believable and the characters fell flat. It often seemed rather juvenile.