Blue Nude Skipping Rope

(After) Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954, French) “Nu Bleu Sauteuse de Corde” (Blue Nude Skipping Rope) This is a limited-edition hand colored lithograph ‘after’ Matisse’s 1952 paper cut-out and gouache. The unframed work of art is signed in the lower right and numbered 5/50 in the lower right in pencil. It measures 9 x 7.75 inches, unframed, and is in good condition with some small blue staining from the paint. Matisse’s cut bits of paper come to life with this well-defined female figure and a jump rope that is shown but is partly outside of the image. This image was produced under Matisse’s supervision for an issue of ‘Verve’ Magazine dedicated to the cut-outs. Sadly, the artist died before its publication in 1954, and that edition of Verve magazine became a tribute to Matisse, called “Les Dernieres Oeuvres de Matisse” (The Last Works of Matisse).