Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses)

Untitled from Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses) by Henri Matisse, executed in 1927, is one of a portfolio of ten lithographs comprising the celebrated Dix Danseuses series. This French print exemplifies the artist’s prolific output in the graphic medium during the late 1920s. Using the specialized lithographic process, Matisse was able to explore the expressive potential of a drawn line, emphasizing spontaneity and fluid form. The technique, which involves drawing directly onto a stone or plate, allowed the artist to achieve the velvety black texture seen in many of his sophisticated graphic prints from this period.

The work focuses entirely on the kinetic female form, a subject central to Matisse's figurative studies throughout his career. Following his relocation to Nice, Matisse frequently returned to themes that blended classicism with modern abstraction, often depicting models, dancers, and odalisques in compositions that prioritized clarity and elegance. In this particular piece, Matisse strips away all environmental details, foregrounding the figure through minimal yet perfectly weighted contours. The movement suggested by the figure is captured through dynamic, economical lines, reflecting the artist’s lifelong ambition to distill complex forms into pure visual signifiers.

Produced during a critical phase of the artist’s graphic development, the portfolio of Ten Dancers (Dix Danseuses) represents a period when Matisse turned increasingly toward black and white media to refine his aesthetic vocabulary before moving fully into the paper cut-out technique later in his career. The mastery of line evident in this 1927 lithograph confirms Matisse's reputation not only as a master colorist but also as one of the 20th century's foremost draftsmen. This important print is held within the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).