Crouching Nude in Profile with Black Hair (Nu accroupi, profil à la chevelure noire)

Crouching Nude in Profile with Black Hair (Nu accroupi, profil à la chevelure noire) by Henri Matisse, created in 1906, exemplifies the artist’s early commitment to draftsmanship and the simplification of form. This specific work is classified as a print, executed using the lithograph technique. Lithography allowed Matisse to achieve a unique spontaneity and textural quality, focusing on line economy to define the figure without the distraction of color or excessive detail.

Dating to the critical period immediately following his involvement with the Fauves, this work shows Matisse grappling with classical motifs reinterpreted through a rigorous modernist lens. The subject, a female nude observed in profile, is rendered in a tightly compacted crouch, defined by sweeping, assured lines. The figure’s posture, characterized by the inward curve of the spine and the protective gesture of the arms, conveys a powerful sense of introspection and containment. The dark mass of the subject’s black hair contrasts sharply with the pale body and surrounding negative space, drawing the viewer's focus to the expressive silhouette.

The period of 1906 was transformative for modern art, and Matisse frequently used the accessible medium of prints to explore variations on essential human forms. This concentration on fundamental contours and expressive outline reflects the evolution of the French master's aesthetic toward pure form, which would define his mature style. The study of the reclining or crouching figure was a recurrent theme for the artist during this era, often serving as a foundation for larger compositions. Today, this significant early print, Crouching Nude in Profile with Black Hair, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its availability for scholarly study and public appreciation.