Visage Souriant - Portrait of a Girl Smiling by Henri Matisse, 1869-1954

Henri Matisse, 1869-1954
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Visage Souriant - Portrait of a Girl Smiling

Original etching in black ink. 1946. Proof apart from the edition of 37 impressions, all printed in 1966 - six proofs are recorded. (The plate was etched in 1946 but no impressions were printed at that date).
Provenance: Atelier Lacourière-Frelaut.
Ref: Duthuit-Matisse - Matisse L'Oeuvre Gravé no 302

Very fine impression with a very light plate tone. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 13 x 9 7/8ins. Plate: 9 3/8 x 5 3/8ins (239x139mm)

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This study dates from very much the same period as the 'Tête de Jeune Fille' opposite. Drawn in etching rather than in lithography it shows how Matisse used the nature of the line in the medium in which he was working to complement the actual imagery. The sharp line, incised into the plate, and linked to the slight surface inking of the plate, creates a much intense quality of communication in the image. The etched line seems to 'carve' the space whilst the lithographic line 'models' it.

Etched and completed in 1946 this plate was never editioned at that date. A small edition of 37 impressions, plus some six proofs (of which the example above is one) were printed by Frélaut, the master-printer that Matisse had himself used in the 1940's. The plate was cancelled after the edition. All impressions are unsigned.