Haïtienne (Haitian Woman)

Hand signed and numbered by the artist in pencil, "H Matisse" and "13/200" lower right. Impression from the signed and numbered edition of 200, aside from 5 trial proofs, 10 artist's proofs, and one cancellation proof. In excellent condition. Catalogue reference: Duthuit-Matisse 567

Henri Matisse, whose prints number more than 800, used the graphic arts media to portray the human figure, typically embodied as an eternally - young woman. His first lithographs, begun in 1906, limn the female face in an unbroken line, now recognized as a trademark of the artist. From the 1930s onward, he created a body of work that explores the relationship between the printed word and the visual image through illustrations of poetry and prose.

One such example is the series of 39 original lithographs drawn by Matisse to illustrate "Poésies Antillaises" by the French poet and novelist, John-Antoine Nau (1860-1918). The illustrations from "Poésies Antillaises" depict young women of the Caribbean islands or the West Indies also known as the Antilles.   The 1945 lithograph "Haïtienne"   may well   have been a precursor for the 1954 series "Poésies Antillaises".