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.

Of the 270 or so cut-outs that Matisse produced during the final decade of his life, many were created to serve as maquettes for various projects, such as book illustrations or stained-glass windows. The design for Coquelicots (or 'Wild Poppies' as it is often known in English) was used to produce a window for the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1969. The original cut-out was executed in Matisse's customary coloured papers with additional cross-hatching in charcoal, details that have been meticulously recreated in this joyous lithograph. The cut-out is also held by DIA; it was acquired from Pierre Matisse in 1978.

Matisse had already painted poppies in numerous guises before he embarked upon this most radical expression of them at the very end of his life. He described the colours in flowers as the primary inspiration for the way he worked to make the colours in his paintings come alive. Coquelicots, with its rhythmic arrangement of blooms, foliage and exotic fruits, is a culmination of Matisse's lifelong search for an art of serenity and balance.

The lithographs are in stunning condition and are becoming extremely scarce.

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Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.

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