Henri Matisse prints

Henri Matisse was deeply engaged with printmaking for over 50 years, producing more than 800 intaglios, lithographs, woodcuts, linocuts and monotypes. He approached printmaking as an extension of drawing, using it as a personal and spontaneous medium to complement his painting. Unlike many artists who relied on master printers, Matisse worked independently in his studio, experimenting freely. His etchings and drypoints, often small in scale, display a fluid, linear quality, while his lithographs explore tonal depth and volume. A highlight of Matisse's prints is Jazz (1947), a groundbreaking book of vibrant pochoir prints that embodies his late cut-out style. Focusing on portraits, nudes and odalisques, Matisse's prints reflect an intimate and expressive aspect of his artistic practice.

Browse related stories: Collecting guide: the life and art of Henri Matisse, The history of printmaking, from Albrecht Dürer to Edward Hopper, embodied in an exceptional collection