HENRI MATISSE (1869-1954)
Étude de visages (recto); Étude de motifs (verso)
pencil on paper
32.5 x 25cm (12 13/16 x 9 13/16in).
Executed circa 1943
Footnotes:
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Georges Matisse.

Provenance
Pierre Matisse Collection, New York.
Pierre-Noël Matisse Collection, Paris (by descent from the above).
Jacquelyn Miller Matisse Collection (by descent from the above); her estate sale, Christie's, New York, 23 June 2021, lot 44.
Galerie Ambroise Duchemin, Paris.
Private collection, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 2022).
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * AR
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.

The sheet is hinged between two window mounts at two points along the upper edge (verso).



The lower edge is uneven with three small paper losses, in line with the artist's removal from a sketchbook. Two historic hinging marks to the lower edge (recto) and two more to the upper margin (verso). A couple of gentle handling creases are visible. There is some faint staining to the right outer edge, likely from an old mount, and the sheet appears to have darkened slightly. There is some very mild surface dirt, with one or two tiny spots of foxing. There appear to be some flecks of the artist's eraser present.



In our opinion, the work is in overall very good condition.