Standing Nude, Arms Folded (Nu debout, les bras croisés)

Standing Nude, Arms Folded (Nu debout, les bras croisés) by Henri Matisse, executed in 1915, is a striking example of the artist’s mastery of graphic media and his continuous, focused engagement with the female form. This concise yet powerful image captures a single standing figure whose arms are crossed tightly across the chest, conveying a sense of introspection, tension, and containment. The work is classified as a print, utilizing the technically demanding and highly experimental medium of the monotype process.

Matisse created this impression using monotype, a technique that allows for only a single, unique result, unlike traditional printmaking that yields multiple editions. This singularity lends itself to spontaneous and vigorous line quality and dramatic tonal variations, allowing the artist to emphasize shadow and contour over color. Adding complexity to the technique, the monotype was combined with chine collé, a specialized method where a thin, often fragile sheet of paper is adhered to a heavier backing sheet during the printing press operation. This French printmaking method enhances the luminosity and delicate quality of the figure while providing necessary structural support for the final composition.

The period of 1915 marked a crucial transition for Matisse, who was moving away from the expressive color of Fauvism toward a more austere, linear aesthetic that prioritized form and mass. Although created during the challenging years of World War I, this work exhibits the classical stability and structural emphasis that defined the artist's mid-career output. The reductive handling of the body and the stark geometry utilized by the artist are foundational aspects of his concurrent sculptural studies. This important piece of French modernist art currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and represents Matisse's rigorous exploration of volume through line. As a foundational work in 20th-century prints, the imagery is frequently studied and documented, making the work a crucial reference point for art historians.