Untitled - Tabac

(After) Henri Matisse (1869-1954, French) Untitled (‘Tabac’) Published in 1943, after the 1942 drawing featuring a partial image of “Le Vase à Tabac” (The Tobacco Vase, also labeled “Tabac Royal”—see full size image.) An offset lithograph with signature, date and series designation and number in the upper right. The image measures 12.5 x 9.5 inches, and it is mounted, surrounded by gold colored fillet, linen matting and a 1.5-inch simple gold frame for a total measurement of 22 x 19 inches.

This image was included as one of 158 plates in the rare World War II -era, limited-edition (of 950) book, “Henri Matisse: Dessins (Designs), Themes et Variations” with preface by Louis Aragon: ''Matisse in France''; published by Martin Fabiani Editions, Paris in 1943. The images in the book consist of “sensitively drawn spare works in elegant, unshaded line, describing simplified forms of female figures or still lives.” The print is signed, dated, with theme and variation number in the plate. Reference: Duthuit 9

Provenance for this work of art is the Eleonore Austerer Gallery of Palm Desert, CA. (See gallery sticker on the verso).

The tobacco jar used as a vase of flowers is seen in the colorful 1943 oil on canvas painting by Matisse called “Tabac Royal.” It also features a young nursing student, Monique Bourgeois, who later became a Dominican nun named Sister Jacques-Marie. Monique had cared for Matisse while he was recovering from an intestinal cancer operation, (See last photo.)