Tęte d'une Jeune Martiniquaise. by Henri Matisse, 1869-1954

Henri Matisse, 1869-1954
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Tęte d'une Jeune Martiniquaise.

Original lithograph in black ink. 1946/47. Extremely rare trial proof, probably one of only one or two existing. No edition. Unsigned. Drawn as a project for the series: Poésies Antillaises, 1946/47. Proof printed at the studio of Mourlot.
Provenance: Estate of Fernand Mourlot.
Ref: See Duthuit - Matisse L'Oeuvre Gravé vol3 page 294, a previously unrecorded version of Poésies Antillaises no 16

Excellent strong impression. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Generally excellent condition, especially for such a proof. Some slight traces of thinning on the reverse only from old mount hinges. Worked virtually to the full sheet size. Sheet: 16 1/4 x 12 1/4ins (415x 310mm).

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The two lithographs above are both exceptionally rare unissued proofs for lithographs drawn and proofed in 1947-48 whilst Matisse was working on the series ‘Poésies Antillaises’. No edition exists for either of the two works. A subsequent state of ‘Tęte Appuyée sur la Main’ (left) is illustrated on page 301 of the Duthuit catalogue volume 3, but this state with the border and extra shading was previously unknown. ‘Tęte Martiniquaise ŕ Gauche’ is a version of the composition issued as No 16 in the series but was previously unknown. Both the above proofs come directly from the archives of the Atelier Mourlot where all the proofs were printed for Matisse in 1947, and where these impressions had remained since that time.

Following the success in 1946 of the series of lithographs that Matisse drew inspired by Reverdy’s poetry under the tittle ‘Visages’ Matisse also began work on an ambitious series of further lithographs - ‘Poésies Antillaises’ - inspired by a poet who particularly interested him - Jean Antoine Nau. Nau’s poetry took its themes from voyages in the Antilles and in particular to Martinique. Matisse had met him with Signac many years before in about 1905, but his admiration for his poetry was particularly high in the 1940’s when themes from the Indies and especially the facial sculpture of women from the Islands, with their ‘exoticism’ and richness, were a great inspiration.

Matisse drew and proofed the lithographs of the ‘Poésies Antillaises’ subjects between 1946 and 1948. However the final project for the album was never completed at the time and just the prints remained in his studio.