Henriette as an Odalisque
1922
Medium
pen and black ink on wove paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.5 x 38.6 cm (11 1/4 x 15 3/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Donated by Lolo Sarnoff in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert von Hirsch
Accession Number
1981.84.2
Art Historical Context
In 1922, Henri Matisse created *Henriette as an Odque*, a captivating pen and black ink drawing wove paper, measuring 28.5 x 38.6 cm. The work depicts Henriette Darricarrère one of Matisse's favorite during the 1910s and 1920s, posed as an odalisque—a reclining harem figure drawn from Orientalist traditions popularized by artists like Ingres and Delacroix. By this time, Matisse had settled in Nice, France, where he produced a renowned series of odalisque paintings and drawings, blending exotic fantasy with modernist simplicity amid the post-World War I cultural shift toward escapism and decora...
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...