Outamaro (Portrait of Margot Matisse?)
1914
Medium
etching
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1973.61.1
Art Historical Context
Henri Matisse created this etching in 1914, a period when the renowned French artist was expanding his practice into printmaking alongside his bold paintings. Titled “Outamaro (Portrait of Margot Matisse?),” the work is now part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection, acquired through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund. The tentative identification of the subject as Matisse’s daughter Margot lends the piece an intimate, personal quality. Etching, the chosen medium, allowed Matisse to explore fine, expressive lines and delicate tonal contrasts on a modest scale. This printmaking technique was si...
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...