Dimensions

31.5 × 23.5 cm (12½ × 9¼ in.)

Provenance

The artist's studio.

Pierre Matisse, New York. The artist's son and one of the foremost dealers of twentieth-century European art in the United States.

La Fondation Pierre et Tana Matisse. Established in 1995 by Tana Matisse, the Foundation has preserved the collection of drawings and prints inherited by Pierre Matisse from his father.

Collection Maria-Caetana Matisse.

Authentication

The authenticity of the drawing has been confirmed by George Matisse, the artist's grandson. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies the work.

Condition

In very good condition.

Catalogue Note

Executed circa 1930, Nu is a refined example of Henri Matisse's lifelong pursuit of expressive simplicity. Throughout his career, drawing remained at the heart of his artistic practice, serving not merely as preparation for paintings but as an independent means of exploring the essential character of the human figure.

Using only the most economical of lines, Matisse constructs the seated nude with remarkable confidence and clarity. The fluid contours describe volume and movement without recourse to shading or unnecessary detail, demonstrating the extraordinary assurance that characterises his mature draughtsmanship. Every line appears both spontaneous and inevitable, reflecting decades of disciplined observation distilled into a language of effortless elegance.

The female nude occupied a central place within Matisse's oeuvre, allowing him to investigate rhythm, balance and harmony through the expressive possibilities of line alone. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, his drawings became increasingly pared back, seeking what the artist described as the "essential character" of his subject. The present work exemplifies that achievement, revealing how a minimal vocabulary of marks can convey both sculptural presence and quiet intimacy.

The drawing is distinguished by exceptional provenance, having passed directly from the artist's studio to Pierre Matisse, the artist's son and one of the most influential dealers of modern art in America. It subsequently entered the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation before remaining within the Matisse family collection. Further supported by authentication from George Matisse, the artist's grandson, the work benefits from an outstanding and continuous family provenance.

As a unique original drawing with impeccable provenance and direct family authentication, Nu represents an exceptional example of Matisse's mature graphic work and an opportunity to acquire an intimate expression of one of the twentieth century's greatest masters.