Nu Allongé. Nude Reclining by Henri Matisse, 1869-1954

Henri Matisse, 1869-1954
Scroll down for information.
Click here to return to the list.

Nu Allongé. Nude Reclining

Original etching in black ink. 1929. Signed with the signature stamp used by the Matisse Heirs. Etched in 1929; no edition was printed at that date. The only edition was printed for the Matisse Family in 1983, and issued together with the de-luxe edition of the Matisse Oeuvre Gravé catalogue.
Ref: Duthuit - Matisse L'Oeuvre Gravé no 125.

Excellent impression. On off-white chine appliqué with a white wove backing sheet, as issued. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 9 5/8 x 12 1/4ins. Plate: 4 x 9 3/4ins (100x248mm).

This item is sold.
Click here to enquire about this item.

This etching with its marvellous quality of delicate incised line and rhythmic elongation of the form is a beautiful example of the concentration on graphic linearity which dominated Matisse?s art for a decade from the beginning of the 1920?s. This plate was drawn by Matisse in 1929 but apart from possibly a single proof it remained un-editioned at that date and stored in Matisse?s studio. In 1980 it was found by his heirs, who then arranged for two proof impressions and then an edition of 117 impressions (to be sold together with the deluxe copies of the Matisse Print Oeuvre catalogue). This impression is not part of that edition. It is one of the proofs, and was given by the Matisse Family to a researcher for the oeuvre album.

It was at the beginning of the 1920?s that Matisse made his famous comment about drawing and his art, stating that he did not really know how to draw and that as a result he was going to abandon painting for a period to concentrate on learning. It was at the same time as this decision that he began to work on a long series of small-scale studies, drawn on copper plates either in drypoint or in etching, on the theme of the female figure. In the years up to 1936 he drew some 140 such studies, of which that above is a characteristically beautiful example.