Duthuit 809
2 Trial Proofs
5 Artist Proofs
Edition of 25, signed and numbered in pencil, lower right.
Henri Matisse’s Nadia regardant à droite (1948) exemplifies the artist’s late-career mastery of reduction and simplicity. Rendered in aquatint as part of an edition of 25, the work features the distinctive profile of Nadia Sednaoui, one of Matisse’s most frequent muses during this period. With a few single, fluid lines, Matisse captures the sharpness of Nadia’s features, emphasising the elegant curve of her nose and the delicate arch of her eyebrow. The boldness of the ink against the untouched paper amplifies the minimalist approach, creating a portrait that is both intimate and universal.
Nadia regardant à droite reflects Matisse’s ongoing fascination with the human face as a vessel for both individual identity and broader symbolic meaning. Here, the reduction of Nadia’s profile to its essential lines speaks to Matisse’s desire to explore the boundaries between abstraction and representation. Created during a period when Matisse was increasingly focused on printmaking due to declining health, this work epitomises his late style, where purity of form and economy of line became the foundation for exploring deep emotional and human truths. Through Nadia’s profile, Matisse captures not only her presence but also a sense of timeless, contemplative beauty.
