Emma with Long Neck I (Emma au long cou I)

Emma with Long Neck I (Emma au long cou I), created by Henri Matisse in 1915, is a significant example of the artist’s dedicated engagement with printmaking during a period of intense stylistic introspection. Classified as a print, this French work utilizes the technically demanding process of monotype combined with chine collé. The year 1915 marked a pivotal moment in Matisse’s artistic output, as he began moving away from the expressive color of Fauvism toward a greater emphasis on structural rigor, linearity, and simplification of form, themes powerfully evident in this portrait study.

The monotype technique is essentially a method of unique impression; the artist paints or draws directly onto a plate, and the image is then transferred under pressure to paper, resulting in a singular, often spontaneous print. Matisse used the inherent fluidity of the process to render the subject, likely a female model, with profound economy. The title refers to the exaggerated elongation of the neck, a characteristic stylistic device employed by Matisse in this era to emphasize verticality, elegance, and formal detachment. The rich, dark ink used in the monotype technique provides sharp contrast, highlighting the dramatic profile of the figure.

Furthermore, the integration of chine collé—the process of adhering a thin, specialized sheet of paper to the final, heavier support during printing—modulates the surface texture of the image, adding subtle warmth and variation often desired in high-quality prints. This focus on simplified contour and silhouette distinguishes the work from his contemporaneous canvases, revealing Matisse’s comprehensive and exploratory approach to various graphic media.

As one of the vital prints produced during the mid-war period, Emma with Long Neck I reflects the evolution of modern French portraiture. Such studies were crucial to Matisse’s ongoing exploration of the fundamental relationship between figure and ground, volume, and line. This specific impression is recognized globally for its artistic importance and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it remains accessible for academic research and public viewing.