Nude, arms clasped over heard (Nu, les bras sur la tête)

Nude, arms clasped over heard (Nu, les bras sur la tête) by Henri Matisse is a striking example of the French master’s graphic work created in 1926. This elegant print utilizes the highly refined technique of etching combined with chine collé, a process where a thin, usually colored or textured, paper is laminated onto a heavier support sheet during the printing itself. This technique allows Matisse to achieve subtle variations in tone and surface quality, contrasting the sharp, deliberate etched lines with the soft background texture provided by the colléd paper.

The subject matter, a reclining female nude, is characteristic of the figure studies Matisse pursued extensively during his time on the French Riviera. The model is presented in an intimate pose, her arms folded above her head, a gesture that elongates the neck and draws attention to the flowing curves of her body. In this work, Matisse emphasizes the formal properties of line rather than volume or color. The composition relies on the artist's economical use of contour lines to define the human form, showcasing his ability to capture the essence of the figure with minimal intervention. This focus on purity of line demonstrates the graphic principles that underpinned much of the artist's production of prints in the mid-1920s.

Although small in scale, the print is highly valued for its technical execution and expressive brevity. This impression of Nude, arms clasped over heard resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, where it contributes to a significant representation of the artist’s prints. The work confirms Matisse’s enduring commitment to exploring the classical theme of the nude figure through the lens of early 20th-century modernism, illustrating why his graphic output remains central to the history of French art.