Woman with an Exotic Plant
c. 1925
Medium
pastel on wove paper coated with sawdust
Dimensions
Overall: 66.1 x 51.4 cm (26 x 20 1/4 in.) framed: 90.1 x 76.2 x 8.2 cm (35 1/2 x 30 x 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Chester Dale Collection
Accession Number
1963.10.170
Art Historical Context
Henri Matisse's *Woman with an Exotic Plant* (c. 1925) captures the artist's exuberant Fauvist spirit in a delicate pastel drawing on wove paper coated with sawdust—a textured surface that enhances the medium's vibrancy and tactile quality. Measuring 66.1 x 51.4 cm, this intimate work depicts a serene female figure amid lush, tropical foliage, embodying Matisse's fascination with decorative patterns, bold colors, and simplified forms during his prolific 1920s period in Nice, France. By the mid-1920s, Matisse had evolved beyond early Fauvism into a more harmonious, oriental-inspired style, oft...
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...