Face in Profile Resting on an Arm before a Louis XIV Screen (Visage de profil reposant sur un bras, paravent Louis XIV) 1924

Henri Matisse created this lithograph titled 'Face in Profile Resting on an Arm before a Louis XIV Screen.' The subject is a woman captured in a moment of introspection, her face in profile, resting on her arm. Matisse uses dense, almost frenetic lines to build form and shadow, creating a palpable sense of texture. The Louis XIV screen in the background adds a layer of depth, its floral patterns contrasting with the smooth planes of the woman's face. The composition is carefully constructed; the angle of the profile, the curve of the arm, and the intricate details of the screen all contribute to a visual rhythm that guides the eye. Matisse challenges fixed meanings by juxtaposing the traditional, ornate screen with the intimate, informal pose of the woman, destabilizing conventional portraiture. The lithographic medium itself, with its capacity for both precision and fluidity, underscores this interplay between control and spontaneity. This print operates within a discourse of modernity, questioning established notions of beauty and representation, inviting us to reconsider the relationship between art and lived experience.