Printer: Mourlot. Published by Tériade for Verve 

Dimensions: 35.7 x 26.5 cm 

Condition: Very Good

Frame: Unframed or Framed.

Description: Printed signature and date, 'H. Matisse 51'. Printed on wove paper by Mourlot. 

The paper cut-out of Poissons Chinois was originally done in 1951 as a maquette for a stained-glass window. It is of particular interest as the window was designed for the villa of Tériade who published this series of lithographs. Matisse described the design in 1951: "Here is a dugong - an easily recognisable fish, it is in the Larousse (the standard French encyclopedia) - and, above, a sea animal in the form of algae. Around are begonias". 

Artist: Henri Matisse (1869-1954) the French artist, draughtsman, printmaker, sculptor and painter was one of the undisputed masters and influential artists of 20th century art. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and would quickly become the leader of the fauvist movement. He was known for his use of brilliant colour, inspired by his time on the French Riviera, and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was one of the three artists, along with Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, who began to revolutionise the artworld from the 1900s. For over 60 years, his vast output included painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic arts – etchings, linocuts, aquatints, paper cut-outs and book illustrations. And he worked with Mourlot studios on lithographs and exhibition posters.