{"product_id":"sirene-by-henri-matisse","title":"Sirène by Henri Matisse","description":"Henri Matisse\u003cbr\u003e 1869–1954 | French \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eSirène\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Black crayon on prepared paper \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This evocative drawing by Henri Matisse captures a graceful mermaid floating at the water’s surface. It was created during the exploratory phase of \u003cem\u003eFlorilège des Amours de Ronsard\u003c\/em\u003e, the most ambitious of Matisse’s celebrated \u003cem\u003elivres d’artiste\u003c\/em\u003e, which he began in 1941 and published in 1948 with lithographs printed by Mourlot Frères. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The gesture of the figure is defined by a sweeping, curved posture that mirrors the undulating rhythm of the waves around her. The composition displays the artist's enduring fascination with organic grace and maritime motifs, carrying forward his lifelong practice of distilling the female form into rhythmic, fluid arabesques that echo the patterns of the natural world. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drawn in black crayon, the portrait reveals a remarkable lightness and lyricism in its mark-making. Rather than the structural density of his final years, this 1948 work exhibits the effortless, soaring line quality that characterized his mid-century graphic explorations, where carefully economic contours interact dynamically with the open paper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Preserved in exceptional condition, this artwork descended directly through the family of master printer Fernand Mourlot, remaining in private hands for 70 years. Produced as the conceptual foundation for the \u003cem\u003eSirène\u003c\/em\u003e lithograph series within his ambitious \u003cem\u003elivres d’artiste\u003c\/em\u003e projects, this work highlights the brilliant collaborative dialogue between Matisse’s masterful draughtsmanship and Mourlot’s renowned printmaking workshop. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Using line as his ultimate instrument of expression, Matisse steadily concentrated his compositions to their essence, leaving a profound imprint on modern art. \u003cem\u003eSirène\u003c\/em\u003e exemplifies the bravado that made Matisse one of the defining artists of the 20th century. Today, related works are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Musée Matisse in Nice. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1948 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Paper: 6 1\/8\" high x 9 1\/8\" wide (15.56 x 23.18 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Framed: 15 1\/4\" high x 18 1\/2\" wide x 1 1\/2\" deep (38.74 x 46.99 x 3.81 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Fernand Mourlot, Mourlot Frères, Rue Chabrol, Paris, by 1948\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, Paris\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans ","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45931255660679,"sku":"32-3153","price":98500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-3153_1.png?v=1790270417","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/sirene-by-henri-matisse","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}