In the late 1940s, Henri Matisse revolutionised his art by exclusively using cut paper and scissors, giving birth to a novel technique known as the "cut-out." He skillfully shaped painted sheets into various forms, ranging from natural to abstract, and arranged them into dynamic compositions.
These works played with form, colour, contrast, and decorative strategies while maintaining a remarkable simplicity. Starting with modest sizes, Matisse's cut-outs eventually grew into large-scale murals and room-sized pieces, representing the pinnacle of his long artistic career.
Matisse later worked closely with the Parisian Lithographer Fernand Mourlot to create a series of lithographs depicting his new creations. Together, they worked on the portfolio between 1950 – 54 and as his final works, they bear testament to Matisse's enduring genius.
In 1954, Matisse passed away, and the unfinished works were compiled into a collection by Mourlot. As a result, the paper, colour, and specification are as Matisse would have wished.
Increasingly rare and extremely sought after, these lithographs offer buyers the opportunity to own one (or more!) of Matisse's most iconic images.
With a renewed focus on form and colour, the Cut-Outs demonstrate unmatched inventiveness, challenging the traditional notions of art.
Henri Matisse, Baigneuse dans les Roseaux, 1958
