Seated Odalisque in Striped Pantaloons

c. 1926–27

Henri Matisse

(French, 1869–1954)

Culture

France, 20th century

Medium

graphite on smooth wove paper

Support

Light weight, cream wove paper

Measurements

Image and Sheet: 34.9 x 25.9 cm (13 3/4 x 10 3/16 in.)

Credit Line

Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift 2020.140

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

The setting for this drawing was Henri Matisse's own studio in Nice, where he had recreated an "Oriental apartment" as a means of inspiration at this time.

Description

Throughout the 1920s, Henri Matisse repeatedly depicted a female model wearing the pair of striped pantaloons seen in this drawing. The sitter was likely Henriette Darricarrière, a young artist, musician, and performer who lived near his studio and wore her hair in the distinctive bob seen here. In the title of this work, like others from this period, Matisse referred to Darricarrière as an odalisque, suggesting his fascination with Morocco, where he had recently traveled. By setting his subject in a harem, the artist presented an invented and idealized vision of non-Western culture.