Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Wanda de Guébriant has confirmed the authenticity of this drawing.

The present drawing depicts a sister of Antoinette Arnoud, Matisse's favorite and most celebrated model during his early years in the South of France. The Arnoud sisters began to sit for Matisse as a substitute for his daughter, Marguerite, when her ill health prevented her from sitting for her father. The present portrait shares a striking directness similar to the most successful portraits of Antoinette, with the sitters dark eyes fixed on the artist and engaging the viewer. This very directness hints at the artist's evolving relationship with his models; in fact, Antoinette's collaboration with Matisse would pave the way for his fruitful working relationships with a string of later models including Henriette Darricarrère and Lydia Delektorskaya.