Odalisque with Red Satin Culottes (Odalisque à la culotte de satin rouge)
1925
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1948.11.145
Art Historical Context
Henri Matisse's *Odalisque with Red Satin Culottes* (1925) captures the artist's fascination with the female form during his prolific Nice period. As a leading figure in Fauvism, Matisse evolved by the 1920s into a master of bold color, flattened space, and decorative patterns. This lithograph depicts a reclining odalisque—a harem woman—in vibrant red satin culottes, evoking exoticism while prioritizing sensual harmony over realism. Printed on stone for its fluid lines and rich tonal range, the medium allowed Matisse to disseminate his vision widely, bridging fine art and printmaking. Created...
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...