Model in Repose (Le Repos du modèle) from Essai dur l'histoire de la lithographie en France. Les Peintures lithographes de Manet à Matisse. Album de lithographies originales.

Model in Repose (Le Repos du modèle) is a defining example of Henri Matisse's graphic output, created as a lithograph in 1922. This specific piece was ultimately published around 1924 as part of a historically significant French portfolio, Essai dur l'histoire de la lithographie en France. Les Peintures lithographes de Manet à Matisse. Album de lithographies originales. The medium of the lithograph allowed Matisse to translate the sensual form of the reclining nude onto the stone with fluid, economical lines, characteristic of his mature style. The classification of this work as a print emphasizes Matisse’s dedication to exploring reproductive media alongside his famous paintings.

The subject of the resting model, or modèle en repos, was a central and recurring motif for Matisse during his celebrated Nice period. Executed at a time when French art was returning to classical form and draftsmanship following the disruption of World War I, this work reflects an increasing focus on contour and volume. Unlike his earlier, more intensely colored experiments, Matisse here uses the subtle, tonal variations inherent in the lithograph process to define the space and articulate the figure's pose. The intimacy suggested between the artist and his subject is captured through the soft shading and confident line work, hallmarks of his practice in the 1920s.

This lithograph was one of sixteen included in the published album, cementing Matisse’s status not only as a master colorist but also as a premier printmaker of the modern era. The creation date of 1922, with subsequent publication c. 1924, places the work at a pivotal moment in the history of Modernist prints. This important example of French artistry and draftsmanship is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it serves as a critical document of the artist’s diverse graphic accomplishments.