Dancer Reflected in the Mirror (Danseuse reflétée dans la glace)

Dancer Reflected in the Mirror (Danseuse reflétée dans la glace) by Henri Matisse, executed in 1927, is a sophisticated example of the French artist's mastery of the lithographic print medium. Created during the height of Matisse’s ‘Nice period,’ the piece reflects his intense focus on themes of interiority, performance, and the depiction of the female figure, often centered around dancers and odalisques. As a graphic work, the lithograph utilizes the stone printing technique to achieve velvety, rich blacks and grays, emphasizing the fluid quality of the artist’s characteristic line.

The composition explores the spatial complexity created by the inclusion of a large mirror. The work depicts a dancer, seemingly paused in an intimate moment within a studio or dressing room setting, contemplating her own image. This motif of the reflection allowed Matisse to dissect and juxtapose different perspectives of the same figure, challenging the traditional single-viewpoint representation of the body. The sparse yet powerful use of line defines the figure's contours and the suggestively decorated environment, establishing a tension between movement and stillness.

While Matisse was simultaneously producing brightly colored oil paintings, this 1927 lithograph demonstrates his commitment to drawing, emphasizing form and volume over pure chromatic expression. The efficiency and elegance of the line work cement the importance of prints within Matisse’s prolific output during the interwar years. This refined approach to figure drawing contributed significantly to his international standing as a leading French modernist. The work, a significant example from the artist’s graphic portfolio, resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).