Repos sur la banquette 1929

In this drawing, Henri Matisse captured a woman lounging on a couch, likely with graphite on paper. Look at the repetitive pattern in the background, a chain of circles receding into space; then, note the contrasting, more assertive, grid on the wall behind the couch. I wonder, how long did he spend in the studio that day, just considering her pose? Did he have to ask her to remain still? The hand that supports her head looks soft, while the one that dangles is limp. I see a little Vuillard in the way he renders the lace of the cushions as well as the subject's headdress. The fabric of the dress looks like he's gently caressing it with the tip of his pencil; her quiet form exudes elegance in its simplicity. I think that it's kind of charming to watch an artist like Matisse just go about his business. I imagine him thinking about Ingres as he works.