Standing Woman Seen from Behind. Study for The Back (I)

"Standing Woman Seen from Behind. Study for The Back (I)" is a seminal preparatory drawing executed by Henri Matisse in 1909. This crucial piece, rendered in simple ink on paper, marks the foundational stage of one of the artist's most ambitious and long-running sculptural projects: the series of four monumental bas-reliefs collectively titled The Back. Classified simply as a drawing, this work captures the minimalist yet dynamic exploration of the female form that characterized much of the French artist’s output during this highly experimental period.

The medium of ink on paper allowed Matisse to define the silhouette of the subject with decisive clarity. The figure is depicted standing, facing away from the viewer, emphasizing the verticality and inherent geometry of the spine and hips. Unlike the highly articulated line work often found in his contemporary figure studies, this 1909 drawing employs broad, assertive strokes that prioritize mass and contour over internal anatomical detail. This simplification suggests the drawing’s intended purpose: to isolate and understand the posture and distribution of weight necessary for successful translation into the heavy medium of sculpture. It serves as a critical example of how Matisse utilized drawing not merely as a finished product, but as a robust tool for rigorous spatial and structural analysis.

Created near the chronological beginning of the series, this work reflects Matisse's increasing commitment to sculpture and the modernist pursuit of abstraction. The subsequent evolution of the subject across the four versions of The Back (created between 1909 and 1930) highlights the artist’s decades-long meditation on classical themes through a radically modern lens. While the original drawing resides in the authoritative collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the renown of the completed sculptural works means that high-quality prints and references to the entire series, including this pivotal 1909 study, are widely accessible in the public domain for academic study and appreciation.