Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses)

Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses) by Henri Matisse is one component of a renowned portfolio of ten original lithographs created in 1927. This period marks a pivotal moment in Matisse’s graphic output, shortly following his highly productive Nice years. The portfolio, published in Paris, focuses entirely on the subject of dancers and the moving female form, a theme that preoccupied the French artist throughout the 1920s and provided inspiration for numerous paintings and graphic prints. This limited edition folio captures the dynamic energy and flowing movement of the human figure through a masterful economy of line.

In this specific print, Matisse employs a direct, simplified approach, characterizing the form of the dancer with minimal strokes. The specialized technique of lithography allowed the artist to translate his rapidly executed sketches into permanent works, preserving the immediacy of the original drawing while retaining the spontaneity of charcoal on paper. The composition emphasizes fluidity and anatomical economy, focusing purely on the silhouette and the relationship between the figure and the negative space surrounding it. Like many of the pieces in the Dix Danseuses series, the work highlights Matisse’s command of the essential line, revealing volume and kinetics without relying on traditional shading or detailed modeling.

Created in 1927, this sheet exemplifies the refined, classicizing tendency present in Matisse’s artistic development following the conclusion of World War I. As a significant example of early 20th-century French printmaking, the entire body of ten prints is highly valued for its contribution to modern graphic arts and the enduring dialogue surrounding the nude in modern art. The complete portfolio, often referenced simply by the title Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses), is held in the collections of prestigious international institutions. This lithograph, classified as a print, is specifically included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its accessibility for study alongside other important modern masterworks.