E.V. Thaw, New York
Paul Kantor Gallery, Beverly Hills
The New Gallery, New York
Sale: Christie's, London, June 24, 1966, lot 56
Private Collection (acquired at the above sale)
Thence by descent from the above (and sold: Sotheby's, London, June 28, 1995, lot 290)
Acquired at the above sale

Executed on cream laid paper. The left side of the sheet, six inches in length, is folded behind the sheet and work is affixed to a mat at the corners. 1/4 inch mat stain around perimeter. Artist's pinholes in the 4 corners as well as in a few spots on top and bottom edge. Work is in very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Matisse established a permanent residence in Nice in 1921. The move coincided with the appearance in his work of Henriette Darricarrère, the sitter depicted in the current work. A young music student who worked closely with Matisse throughout the 1920s, she acted both as model and assistant and her features have become familiar to us through many of the artist's most important compositions of the period. Among these are a great series of highly finished drawings executed in charcoal and éstompe such as Henriette lisant.

Matisse first began to employ the medium of charcoal and éstompe in 1922. Using an eraser or éstompe to manipulate the rough charcoal surface it would become his favourite vehicle in seeking to explore chiaroscuro. Matisse describes how the medium allowed him, "to consider simultaneously the character of the model, the human expression, the quality of the surrounding light, atmosphere and all that can only be expressed by drawing." The many effects and nuances that Matisse was able to achieve are discussed by John Elderfield who explains how the media, "permitted him to create an extraordinarily wide range of soft, closely graded tones, ranging from transparent, aerated greys to dense and sooty blacks" (John Elderfield, The Drawings of Henri Matisse, London, 1984, pp. 84-85).

Fig. 1 Maꦓtisse sketching his model Henriette Darricarrère in his studio in Nice. Photograph by Man Ray.