HENRI MATISSE (1869–1954) began preparations in 1945 for a suite of lithographs that he hoped to offer en hommage to the French poet John-Antoine Nau (1860–1918). Nau’s verse took its themes from his voyages through the Antilles—in particular his travels to Martinique. The idea was to create a series of portraits of Martinquaise women to complement Nau’s work. Trial impressions of 27 drawings were printed; however, there were long delays in producing the text, and Matisse died before the project could be finished. Happily, it was resurrected by Paris lithographer Fernand Mourlot (1895–1988) and completed in 1972. A wonderful example of Matisse’s extraordinary draughtsmanship. Gallery COA provided.

HENRI ÉMILE BENÔIT MATISSE was an influential and revolutionary artist of the early 20^th century—best known for the expressive color and form of his Fauvist style. Born to a grain merchant in northern France, he initially pursued the law and worked for a time as a clerk. At the age of 21, while convalescing from a serious bout with appendicitis, he discovered a passion for painting. After only a few years of study at the Paris atelier of Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau (1826—1898), Matisse exhibited four paintings at the École des Beaux-Arts’ annual Salon in 1896—and scored an early triumph with the sale of his Woman Reading (1895).

Self-confident and venturesome, Matisse experimented with pointillism before abandoning it for the swirling brushwork and riots of color that would become known as Fauvism. Though his subjects were largely domestic and figurative, his works exhibit a distinctive Mediterranean vitality. He also took up sculpture, producing some 60 pieces during his lifetime.

In 1917 Matisse moved to the French Riviera. His paintings became less daring, but his output remained prodigious. After 1939 he became increasingly active as a graphic artist (chronic illness impacted his ability to paint upright, and he underwent abdominal cancer surgery in 1941). He published the book Jazz in 1947, reflections on art and life with brilliantly hued illustrations that he produced by “drawing with scissors”: motifs were pasted together after being cut out of sheets of colored paper. Matisse designed the magnificent Rosary Chapel at Vence as a gift to the Dominican nuns who cared for him in his final years.

NOTABLE WORKS:

• Woman with a Hat, 1905
• Le bonheur de vivre, 1906
• Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra), 1907
• Dance, 1910
• The Red Studio, 1911
• The Snail, 1953

Never ruin a good painting with the truth. – HENRI MATISSE

DETAILS

Artist – HENRI MATISSE (1869—1954)

Period/Year – 1946

Origin – FRANCE

Styles/Movements – POST IMPRESSIONIST

Media – LITHOGRAPH

Support – PAPER

Edition – EDITION

Colors – COFFEE

Condition – Excellent vintage condition. May show minor signs of previous ownership and use.

Dimensions – 24 ½" H × 20 ½" W × 1 ½" D