Black Eyes (Les yeux noirs)

Art Historical Context

Henri Matisse's *Black Eyes (Les yeux)*, created in 1913, is a striking lithograph that captures the artist's mastery of bold form and expressive line during his post-Fauvist phase. As a leader of the Fauvism earlier in his career, Matisse had by this time into a master of simplified shapes and vibrant energy, often exploring portraiture and human emotion. This print, housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection (Department CG-W), exemplifies his shift toward more abstracted representations, where the titular "black eyes" likely serve as a dramatic focal point, evoking intensity and mystery. Lithography, the medium here, was significant for Matisse as it allowed for nuanced tonal variations and fluid lines through grease crayon on stone, enabling multiple impressions for wider audiences. Unlike his colorful oil paintings, this black-and-white print highlights his graphic prowess, a technique he honed in the early 20th century amid Europe's avant-garde ferment. Produced just before World War I, it reflects the era's artistic experimentation, bridging fine art and reproductive processes. Visitors to the National Gallery will appreciate how *Black Eyes* distills Matisse's revolutionary vision into an intimate, reproducible form, making modernist innovation accessible. Its classification as a print underscores the medium's role in democratizing art, inviting contemplation of gaze and identity in a rapidly modernizing world.

About the Artist

Henri Matisse · 1869–1954

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a French painter, draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and the greatest colorist of his era. Born in Le Cateau-Cambresis in northern France, Matisse initially studied law before discovering his passion for art during a period of convalescence at age 20. He became the leading figure of F...