Henri Matisse
Nuit de Noel, 1958
Lithograph
Sheet: 35.5 x 26.5 cm
Framed: 50 x 37 cm
Framed: 50 x 37 cm
From the edition of 2000
These lithographs were begun in 1950, almost at the end of the artist's life, and are from the only edition of lithographs of the cut-outs produced directly by Matisse working...
These lithographs were begun in 1950, almost at the end of the artist's life, and are from the only edition of lithographs of the cut-outs produced directly by Matisse working with Mourlot. The images reproduce his iconic pochoir designs and were incorporated into a volume of the French portfolio Verve, ‘Dernieres Oeuvres de Matisse’, also known as Verve 35/36, celebrating his last works and published posthumously by Teriade in Paris in 1958.
Matisse's decorations and stained glass windows for the chapel at Vence had been completed in 1951 to great critical acclaim, and in January 1952 he was commissioned by Life magazine to produce a stained glass window to be displayed at their headquarters in New York as part of that year's Christmas celebrations. The artist created a scene in which the Star of Bethlehem appears over a landscape of organic forms, a joyous celebration of colour and pattern.
In March 1952 the cut-out was submitted to master craftsman Paul Bony, who had assembled the windows at Vence. The finished window arrived at New York's Rockefeller Center on 8th December and was displayed in time for Christmas Eve in the reception of the Time-Life building. The window and cut-out were donated to the Museum of Modern Art in 1953.
The stars in this image demonstrate Matisse's sculptural approach to making the cut-outs; instead of cutting out each star in its entirety, he assembled them from a series of individual triangles pinned together. As ever, the deceptively simple aesthetic of his later work conceals the careful processes used to achieve specific effects. This exquisite lithograph captures the wonderful luminosity and radiance that Matisse had intended for his window.
The lithographs are in stunning condition and are becoming extremely scarce.
Referenced in the Catalogue Raisonne: Duthuit 139. Freitag 6231
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**
Matisse's decorations and stained glass windows for the chapel at Vence had been completed in 1951 to great critical acclaim, and in January 1952 he was commissioned by Life magazine to produce a stained glass window to be displayed at their headquarters in New York as part of that year's Christmas celebrations. The artist created a scene in which the Star of Bethlehem appears over a landscape of organic forms, a joyous celebration of colour and pattern.
In March 1952 the cut-out was submitted to master craftsman Paul Bony, who had assembled the windows at Vence. The finished window arrived at New York's Rockefeller Center on 8th December and was displayed in time for Christmas Eve in the reception of the Time-Life building. The window and cut-out were donated to the Museum of Modern Art in 1953.
The stars in this image demonstrate Matisse's sculptural approach to making the cut-outs; instead of cutting out each star in its entirety, he assembled them from a series of individual triangles pinned together. As ever, the deceptively simple aesthetic of his later work conceals the careful processes used to achieve specific effects. This exquisite lithograph captures the wonderful luminosity and radiance that Matisse had intended for his window.
The lithographs are in stunning condition and are becoming extremely scarce.
Referenced in the Catalogue Raisonne: Duthuit 139. Freitag 6231
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**