Martin Fabiani, Paris (acquired from the artist)
Sam Salz, New York (acquired from the above)
A gift from the above in 1954

Henri Matisse, "Comment j'ai fait mes livres" in Anthologie du livre illustré par les peintres et sculpteurs de l'École de Paris, Geneva, 1976, no. 259, pp. 75-76

Overall this pen and ink on blue paper is in stable condition and shows no sign of tears, paper losses, or planar distortions. Visually, the paper is clean and shows no sign of staining or discoloration. Dark black and brown flecks of paper pulp dot the sheet and are original to the manufacture of the paper support. The medium is also stable, fresh in a appearance, and does not exhibit paint loss or signs of fading. The above condition report has been provided by Antonio Alvarez of Alvarez Fine Art Services, Inc. 26 West 36th St. New York, NY 212-244-5255, info@alvarezfas.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
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.

In the 1940s, French author Henry de Montherlant and Henri Matisse collaborated on a project that interpreted the story of Pasiphae and the birth of the Minotaur from Ancient Greek mythology. For each scene, Matisse selected a favorite phrase from de Montherlant’s version of the tale. Only one image per scene was printed for the original 1944 publication, but each was the product of countless studies such as the present work (see fig.1).

Matisse often spoke of how the act of drawing was integral to his approach to oil painting, but it is important to realize that his compositions in pen and ink are complete works in their own right.  Ernst Gerhard Güse has written, "There is nothing provisional about his drawings: they are complete, finished works, resulting from an extended process of identification. The line which encircles the objects supplied a final, conclusive definition. Through the connection between the line and the artist's emotions, his inner life, the drawing becomes an act of assimilation, taking possession of nature" (Ernst Gerhard Güse, Matisse, Drawings and Sculpture, Munich, 1991, p. 10).

Fig. 1 Henri Matisse, Frontispiece for "Pasiphaé, la reine à la tiare cornue", linocut, 1943