Henri Matisse Danseuse allongée, Tête accoudée, from Dix Danseuses (Lying Dancer, Head Resting, from Ten Dancers), 1925-1926 is one of the ten lithographs in the Dix Danseuse Series. The series is a study of a Matisse's dancer model Henrietta,  depicting her in various states of repose. In four of the lithographs, she is sitting with legs folded and head leaning on her hand. The other six lithographs, horizontally oriented, show her reclining, her body stretched out in poses of easy rest.  In this work, she is lying on her side, arms and legs crossed. Her head,  with its dark mass of hair tied up, leans thoughtfully into her cupped palm.  The viewer is given an intimate glimpse into a quiet and gentle moment of the dancer's life, free from powerful dynamic movements and focused poses.

Matisse was introduced to the world of dance and theater in 1919 when he worked for Ballets Russes, a traveling ballet company based in Paris. While there, Matisse worked on costumes. His knowledge of ballet costumes is evident in his exquisite rendition of the resting dancer.

Created c. 1925-1926, the lithograph on Arches paper is part of the Dix Danseuses series. Hand-signed by Henri Matisse (Le Cateau-Cambrésis, 1869 – Nice, 1954) in pencil in the lower left margin, this lithograph is numbered from the edition of 130 in pencil in the lower left margin.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Henri Matisse Danseuse allongée, Tête accoudée, from Dix Danseuses (Lying Dancer, Head Resting, from Ten Dancers), 1925-1926 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Duthuit-Matisse, Marguerite and Claude Duthuit. Henri Matisse: Catalogue raisonné d l’oeuvre grave établi avec la collaboration de Françoise Garnaud. Paris: Duthuit Publishers, 1983. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 486 on pgs. 82-83.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Henri Matisse Danseuse allongée, Tête accoudée, from Dix Danseuses (Lying Dancer, Head Resting, from Ten Dancers), 1925-1926 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.