Black Eyes (Les Yeux noirs)

Black Eyes (Les Yeux noirs) by Henri Matisse is a significant lithograph executed in 1913. Classified as a print, this work exemplifies Matisse’s dedication to graphic arts during a period when he explored pure line and simplified form, moving away from the heightened color associated with his earlier Fauvist phase. As a master of French modernism, Matisse utilized the lithographic process to achieve clarity and directness, allowing line to carry both emotional weight and structural definition.

Created just before the outbreak of the First World War, this piece reflects the foundational movements of modern French art in the early 20th century. While the specific sitter is not always detailed, the title strongly suggests an intimate portrait focused intently on the subject’s gaze—a recurring thematic concern for Matisse as he continually redefined the visual boundaries of representation. Utilizing the inherent strengths of the lithograph medium, Matisse employed simplified, elegant contours to define the subject, achieving psychological depth without relying on complex shading or traditional modeling techniques. The resulting stark graphic quality, typical of his 1913 works, emphasizes the essential features suggested by the title, creating a powerful study in reduced expression.

This important work is part of the extensive collection of modern prints held by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The creation of Black Eyes (Les Yeux noirs) underscores Matisse's commitment to printmaking as a distinct artistic discipline separate from painting. These high-quality prints were vital in disseminating modern French artistic concepts to a wider international audience. As a key example of the artist's graphic output from the 1910s, the lithograph remains an essential reference point for scholars studying Matisse’s evolution toward a more classical interpretation of form, cementing his status as a pivotal figure in modern art history.