Henri Matisse Teeny, 1938 linocut is bold and dramatic in scale and perspective. The first wife of Henri Matisse’s son Pierre and eventual second wife to Marcel Duchamp, Alexina “Teeny” Duchamp was someone that garnered much importance and fondness to Henri Matisse. Matisse approaches Teeny with a sensitive eye capturing her piercing eyes, delicate nose, and full lips. Enhanced by the intense black and white contrasts achieved by the linoleum cut, this work displays a delicacy of line and patterning.

The subject's distinct almond eyes, arching eyebrows quizzically address the viewer, her shoulder length hair cascading around her face creating a sense of motion in this otherwise fixed portrait. The diamond and zigzag patterning of the background evokes a wallpapered interior which further enhances the overall familiarity of the scene. Capturing the moment before speech, the partially smiling yet separated lips, call to mind the mysterious portrait of Mona Lisa. This sense of uncertainty inspires continual study and reevaluation.

Created in 1938, Henri Matisse Teeny is a linoleum cut on wove paper that is hand-signed by Henri Matisse (Le Cateau- Cambrésis, 1869 - Nice, 1954 in pencil in the lower right margin. Numbered from the deluxe edition of 100 in the lower left margin, this work was published by XXe Siècle, Paris.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Henri Matisse Teeny, 1938 is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will accompany the final sale of the work):

1. Duthuit-Matisse, Marguerite, Henri Matisse: Catalogue raisonné de lœuvre grave Tome II. Paris: Claude Duthuit, 1983, Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 723.
2. Neret, Gilles, Henri Matisse, 1996. Koln, Taschen, 1996. Listed on page 181 and illustrated on page 180.
3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this linocut.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Henri Matisse Teeny, 1938 is presented in a complementary moulding and optical-grade Plexiglas.