Nu de Trois Quarts - La Tête Penchée. 1906. by Henri Matisse, 1869-1954

Henri Matisse, 1869-1954
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Nu de Trois Quarts - La Tête Penchée. 1906.

Original lithograph in black ink. 1906. Signed with the monogram (in the stone). Numbered 20 in ink from the edition of 25. Drawn by Matisse in his studio from life. Printed at the studio of Duchatel, Paris 1906. A very rare work from Matisse's Fauve period.
Ref: Duthuit-Matisse - Matisse L'Oeuvre Gravé no 401

Superb impression. On cream japan paper. Excellent original condition. The full sheet. Printed virtually to full sheet size. Sheet: 17 5/8 x 10 7/8ins. 450x278mm.

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?Nu de Trois Quarts? is a total expression of the combination of the simplicity yet power which marks Matisse?s art of the Fauve period. Drawn the year after ?Luxe, Calme et Volupté? and the year before ?La Luxe? in its refinement of line and approach to expressive but simplified form it encapsulates the idea that ruled this period of Matisse?s art, that a picture results from the interaction of the artist?s internal energies and that he was aiming ?to reach that condition of concentration of my sensations that will result in a picture?. Matisse wrote in 1908 of his need to achieve balance, purity and serenity in his art. His expressive power in the Fauve years (1905-09) was indicative of his need to capture sensual emotion. This is in contrast to other expressionist artists such as those of the ?Die Brücke? group, whom he greatly influenced in a compositional and colourist sense, for theirs was a more socially-orientated expressionism.

?Nu de Trois Quarts' has a powerful sensual force. Its appeal straight to the emotions typifies the way in which Matisse and the other the Fauve painters - Vlaminck, Derain, Rouault - wanted to create an art which was in direct contrast to the intellectual refinement of, for example, the Symbolists and Nabis of the previous decade. At the same time, however, within this emotional force Matisse wanted to achieve a quality of repose in the form, he wanted power of emotion yet a sense of satisfying balance. In ?Nu de Trois Quarts? within the few strokes of the chalk there is a complete expression of these ideas.

Matisse drew his first lithographs in 1906 including ?Nu de Trois Quarts?. He was attracted to the medium through the quality of anonymity but translucence which he could create within a totally free line. The works of this period, as in ?Nu de Trois Quarts? are also remarkable for the manner in which the lines of the image, whilst restricted to a simple expressive stroke, seem to fill the whole sheet and force their way outwards. Working at Duchatel?s studio Matisse achieved a strong richness of line and he restricted the twelve or so compositions of this period to very small editions of 25 impressions. Although individually numbered in ink, as here, he signed most with initials in the stone rather than autographically.