The Plumed Hat

The Plumed Hat by Henri Matisse is a highly representative drawing executed in pencil on paper in 1919. This sophisticated French work belongs to a critical transitional phase in the artist’s career, often dubbed the Nice Period. Following the turmoil of World War I, Matisse relocated to the south of France, where his style shifted toward figurative stability and an emphasis on traditional pictorial concerns. The drawing technique demonstrates the artist's foundational mastery of line, utilizing the pencil to capture both the volume and the precise contour of the subject.

The subject is a woman, likely one of the models frequently employed by Matisse during this period, whose identity is partially obscured or emphasized by the elaborate headwear suggested by the title. Matisse carefully renders the texture and scale of the plumed hat, using varied pressure in the graphite to suggest soft fabric and feathers contrasted against the sitter’s strong facial structure. This piece exemplifies the refined graphic sensibility that Matisse perfected during the 1919 era, seeking classical structure within modern figuration. The overall effect is one of quiet elegance and focused observation, reflecting the desire for order prevalent in French art immediately after the war.

This compelling drawing is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, where it serves as an important marker of Matisse’s post-Fauve exploration of portraiture. Though the original is a fragile work on paper, the enduring quality of the composition ensures its prominence in discussions of 20th-century drawing. Due to its cultural significance and the popularity of the artist, high-quality prints and reproductions of the work are frequently encountered, ensuring its accessibility within the wider public domain.