Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses)

Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses) by Henri Matisse is a significant example of the artist's exploration of the human form through graphic media. Created in 1927, this piece is one of a portfolio of ten lithographs dedicated to capturing the essence of movement and grace.

The renowned French master, Matisse, utilized the medium of lithography to great effect, emphasizing the power of contour drawing. This work, classified simply as a print, prioritizes pure gesture and the economy of line over the color and complex textures found in his concurrent oil paintings. The composition likely depicts a lone or paired dancer, whose form is rendered through delicate, flowing contours, resulting in a stark contrast between the dark, lithographic crayon and the untouched white paper. This focus on line reflects Matisse's classicizing period following World War I, where he sought to distill complex physical subjects down to their most expressive and elemental shapes.

The entire Dix Danseuses portfolio reflects a sustained fascination with theatricality and the expressive potential of the body, themes that became central to his creative output throughout the late 1920s. The creation of such fine art prints allowed Matisse to translate his intimate studies of the figure into a reproducible format, securing wider recognition for his vision among collectors and artists. This specific lithograph exemplifies the high quality of graphic work being produced during the period and provides valuable insight into the evolving aesthetics of French modernism in 1927. This essential piece of modern art resides within the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art, preserving a key moment in Matisse’s prolific engagement with prints and the dancing figure.