Figure endormie sur fond de moucharabieh 1929

Henri Matisse made this print, "Figure endormie sur fond de moucharabieh," using etching, which is all about line and flow. Look how the etching needle seems to dance across the plate, leaving behind this web of lines that suggest form and space. The surface here is smooth but alive, you know? It is just ink on paper, but the way Matisse articulates the contours of the figure with such ease makes you feel like you could reach out and touch her. The negative space surrounding the figure is just as important as the lines themselves; it's like the air she breathes while she sleeps. Check out the way the lines thicken and thin. It gives the whole thing a pulse. It reminds me of the drawings of Picasso, but with a softer, more decorative edge. Maybe it’s a dialogue between friends. It’s never about getting it ‘right’ but about pushing, pulling, and seeing where it all lands. Isn’t that the best part?