Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954)
Marie-José en robe jaune, 1950, edition of 100 (Duthuit-Matisse, 817). Signed and numbered "H. Matisse/26/100" in crayon l.r. Color aquatint on Arches paper with watermark, plate size 21 1/8 x 16 7/16 in. (53.5 x 41.6 cm), framed.
Condition: Full sheet with deckled edges, sheet gently toned, colors strong and fresh, staining near edges of sheet, pinpoint foxing visible primarily on verso.
Provenance: A private New England collection.
N.B. Matisse was a prolific printmaker, creating more than 800 printed works, and worked in a broad variety of techniques, embracing intaglio, relief, and planeographic processes. The work presented here is an aquatint; an intaglio process in which the artist brushes a granular resin onto a metal plate. When the plate is placed into an acid bath the particles protect the surface, creating a fine network of channels that carry ink for printing.