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Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse, Mask of a Young Boy, from Alternation, 1946
1946

Name: Henri Matisse, Mask of a Young Boy, from Alternation, 1946
Brand: Henri Matisse
Rating: 4.8 (74 reviews)

$3,495List Price

About the Item

This exquisite etching by Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Masque de jeune garcon (Mask of a Young Boy), from the album Alternance (Alternation), originates from the 1946 edition published by Le Gerbier, Paris, and printed by Atelier Lacouriere-Frelau t, Paris, under the direction of Roger Lacouriere, Paris, March 2, 1946. The work embodies Matisses mastery of expressive line, lyrical contour, and sculptural simplicity, distilling the purity, grace, and emotional resonance that define his modernist vision. Executed as an etching on velin de Rives paper, this work measures 12.88 x 9.88 inches (32.7 x 25.1 cm). Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Atelier Lacouriere-Frelau t, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: Henri Matisse (1869–1954) Title: Masque de jeune garcon (Mask of a Young Boy), from the album Alternance (Alternation) Medium: Etching on velin de Rives paper Dimensions: 12.88 x 9.88 inches (32.7 x 25.1 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued Date: 1946 Publisher: Le Gerbier, Paris Printer: Atelier Lacouriere-Frelaut, Paris, under the direction of Roger Lacouriere, Paris Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Duthuit, Claude. *Henri Matisse: Catalogue raisonne des ouvrages illustres.* Editions Claude Duthuit, Paris, 1988, illustration 268. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Alternance (Alternation), published by Le Gerbier, Paris; printed by Atelier Lacouriere-Frelau t, Paris, under the direction of Roger Lacouriere, Paris, March 2, 1946 Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), Printing was finished on March 2, 1946 on the presses of atelier Quesneville for thirteen etchings; on the presses of Lacouriere for the etchings by Henri Matisse and Dignimont; the etching of J.G. Daragnes was engraved by himself; the typography, which is composed of Garamond was printed on the presses of the Master Printer, G. Girard. This collection of sixteen original etchings, alternating with sixteen unpublished writings, CCC examples have been drawn, including XXXVIII on Monival and hand numbered from I to XXXVIII; and, CCLXII on Rives BFK, numbered from XXXIX to CCC. XL examples were drawn for hors commerce on Lana a la forme numbered from I to XL. About the Publication: Alternance (Alternation), published in 1946 by Le Gerbier, stands as a significant postwar livre d'artiste uniting sixteen original etchings with sixteen unpublished literary texts. Produced with exceptional attention to etching technique, paper selection, and typographic refinement, the album reflects the collaborative vitality of mid-century French printmaking. Printed across several fine papers including Monival, Rives BFK, and Lana a la forme, the edition embodies the craft traditions of Atelier Lacouriere-Frelau t, Atelier Quesneville, and the presses of G. Girard, preserving a moment of rich artistic exchange in the years immediately following World War II. About the Artist: Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter, sculptor, draughtsman, and printmaker whose revolutionary vision redefined modern art through his daring use of color, line, and form. Celebrated as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Matisse led the Fauvist movement and devoted his life to the pursuit of balance, beauty, and emotional expression in visual art. His early works burst with vibrant hues and liberated brushwork, while his later "cut-out" compositions achieved a poetic simplicity that transformed the relationship between color and space. Deeply influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat, as well as by the rhythmic patterns of Islamic art, Byzantine mosaics, and Japanese prints, Matisse forged a new visual language that celebrated joy, movement, and serenity. He was part of an extraordinary generation of artists who shaped the evolution of modernism, maintaining lifelong dialogue and friendly rivalry with contemporaries such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Andre Derain, Albert Marquet, and Raoul Dufy—peers who, like him, sought to expand the expressive potential of color and composition. Matisses influence extended across generations, inspiring modern and contemporary masters including Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, each of whom drew upon his fearless experimentation and refined visual harmony. His paintings, sculptures, and works on paper are held in the most prestigious museums in the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Hermitage Museum, where his art continues to symbolize the essence of creativity and human emotion. The highest price ever paid for a Henri Matisse artwork is approximately 80.8 million USD, achieved in 2018 at Christies New York for Odalisque couchee aux magnolias (1923). Henri Matisse Masque de jeune garcon Alternance 1946, Matisse etching, Matisse velin de Rives, Matisse collectible print.

Creator:
Henri Matisse (1869-1954, French)
Creation Year:
1946
Dimensions:
Height: 12.875 in (32.71 cm)Width: 9.875 in (25.09 cm)
Medium:
Engraving
Movement & Style:
Modern
Period:
1940-1949
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Southampton, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1465214867642

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