'Nu Pour Cleveland' After Henri Matisse, 1932, Chine-Collé Etching, 56/250, Artist Signed

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Pencil signed by the artist, lower right, 'Henri Matisse' (French, 1869-1954) with number and limitation, '56/250'.
Matted dimensions: 23.75 H … Read more Pencil signed by the artist, lower right, 'Henri Matisse' (French, 1869-1954) with number and limitation, '56/250'.
Matted dimensions: 23.75 H x 19.75 W inches

Published by the Print Club of Cleveland in 1932, this etching with Chine-collé on cream wove paper is designated as Duthuit 233 in the artist's catalogue raisonne.

One of the most influential artists of the twentieth century and a leading figure in modern art, Henri Matisse was born in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, northern France, and initially studied law in Paris. After an illness in 1889, he turned to painting, enrolling at the Académie Julian in 1891, where he studied under William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Dissatisfied with academic instruction, he transferred to the École des Beaux-Arts and entered the studio of Gustave Moreau, who encouraged personal expression and exposure to museum collections.

Matisse traveled extensively for study and inspiration, including trips to Brittany, Corsica, Italy, Germany, Spain, and North Africa, especially Algeria and Morocco. Early influences included Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Japanese prints. His breakthrough came with the Fauvist movement, marked by the 1905 Salon d’Automne in Paris, where his bold use of color drew critical attention.

Throughout his career, Matisse exhibited with success in Paris, London, Berlin, New York, and Moscow. He received early patronage from Russian collectors Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov, who commissioned major decorative works. Although Matisse did not pursue formal prizes or academic awards, his growing reputation led to major retrospectives during his lifetime, including exhibitions at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In his later years, declining health led him to develop his celebrated cut-paper works, culminating in the design of the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence, completed in 1951. Matisse remained artistically active until his death in Nice in 1954. The artist's work can be found in the permanent collections of museums including the Musée National d’Art Moderne (Paris), Musée Matisse (Nice), New York Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Tate Modern, National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Hermitage Museum, State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Art Institute of Chicago and the Barnes Foundation. Henri Matisse is listed in all relevant reference works including Benezit, which provides signature samples, and Thieme/Becker. See less