Matisse, Mille et une Nuit, Derrière le miroir (after)

1951

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Nuit de Noel (Christmas Night), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. IX, No. 35–36, originates from the 1958 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1958. Created during Matisse’s final period, Nuit de Noel embodies his profound synthesis of form, color, and spirituality. The composition, evoking the calm radiance of the nativity, expresses a sense of universal harmony through luminous shapes and vibrant contrasts. This piece exemplifies Matisse’s late cut-out technique, where visual rhythm and color convey the serenity and joy of life and faith. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, faithfully capturing the coloristic richness and compositional rhythm of Matisse’s late paper cut-outs. Artwork Details: Artist: After Henri Matisse (1869–1954) Title: Nuit de Noel (Christmas Night), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. IX, No. 35–36, 1958 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1958 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne reference: Duthuit, Claude. Henri Matisse: Catalogue raisonne des ouvrages illustres. Editions Claude Duthuit, Paris, 1988, illustration 139 Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. IX, No. 35–36, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1958 Notes: Excerpted from the publication, Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. IX, No. 35–36, published under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1958. This double issue of Verve was entirely devoted to the final works of Henri Matisse, composed of his celebrated gouache cut-outs, which the artist called “painting with scissors.” Completed shortly before his death, this issue represents the culmination of Matisse’s lifelong exploration of color, rhythm, and spiritual joy through the simplest means of expression. About the Publication: Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire was one of the most influential art periodicals of the 20th century, founded in Paris in 1937 by the visionary Greek-born publisher Teriade (Stratis Eleftheriades). Conceived as a synthesis of art and literature, Verve brought together the greatest modern artists and writers of its time—Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Fernand Leger, and others—alongside poets and philosophers such as Paul Eluard, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Each issue was a work of art in itself, luxuriously printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and produced in collaboration with leading typographers and designers. Verve became a platform for avant-garde creativity, publishing original lithographs and essays that reflected the evolving spirit of modernism. Matisse collaborated closely with Teriade from the magazine’s inception, producing some of its most iconic issues, including those devoted to his paper cut-outs. The final Verve issue of 1958, which featured La Tristesse du Roi, the Nu Bleu series, and Nuit de Noel, stands as a testament to Matisse’s enduring genius and to the publication’s legacy as the definitive meeting of art, poetry, and printing craftsmanship in 20th-century France. About the Artist: Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter, sculptor, draughtsman, and printmaker whose revolutionary vision redefined modern art through his daring use of color, line, and form. Celebrated as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Matisse led the Fauvist movement and devoted his life to the pursuit of balance, beauty, and emotional expression in visual art. His early works burst with vibrant hues and liberated brushwork, while his later “cut-out” compositions achieved a poetic simplicity that transformed the relationship between color and space. Deeply influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat, as well as by the rhythmic patterns of Islamic art, Byzantine mosaics, and Japanese prints, Matisse forged a new visual language that celebrated joy, movement, and serenity. He was part of an extraordinary generation of artists who shaped the evolution of modernism, maintaining lifelong dialogue and friendly rivalry with contemporaries such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Andre Derain, Albert Marquet, and Raoul Dufy—peers who, like him, sought to expand the expressive potential of color and composition. Matisse’s influence extended across generations, inspiring modern and contemporary masters including Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, each of whom drew upon his fearless experimentation and refined visual harmony. His paintings, sculptures, and works on paper are held in the most prestigious museums in the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Hermitage Museum, where his art continues to symbolize the essence of creativity and human emotion. The highest price ever paid for a Henri Matisse artwork is approximately $80.8 million USD, achieved in 2018 at Christie’s New York for Odalisque couchee aux magnolias (1923). Henri Matisse Nuit de Noel...

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