Artwork
Girl by a Window
Girl by a Window is an oil painting by the Fauvist artist Henri Matisse. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Girl by a Window is an oil painting executed by Henri Matisse in 1921 on canvas support.
Girl by a Window is an oil painting executed by Henri Matisse in 1921 on canvas support. The work is classified as a portrait and measures 46.7 cm in height by 55.6 cm in width, giving it a horizontal orientation suited to its intimate subject. Painted in oil, the canvas provides a smooth ground for Matisse's handling, though the sources do not specify particular brushwork details, layering techniques, or pigment choices.
The medium and support are consistent with Matisse's early-1920s Nice-period practice of working in oil on canvas, but no further technical information, such as condition reports or stylistic analysis, is documented in the available records.
History & Provenance
The work was painted by Henri Matisse in 1921, as recorded in the artist's oeuvre and confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's records. It depicts a girl seated by a window. No documented commission or early provenance details are cited in the available sources, which list only the museum's acquisition and 1921 as the date of execution.
Overview
Henri Matisse created Girl by a Window in 1921, employing oil paint to depict a female figure by an open window. This painting exemplifies the artist's distinctive approach to color and form, showcasing his innovative methods within portraiture and interior scenes. The work is a notable example of his output during this period and is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a woman with her arms crossed, attired in a green top with white lace detailing at the neck and cuffs, standing beside an open window. Through the window, a bright outdoor vista is visible, featuring a beach with sparse palm trees, distant figures, and a small building near the water. This arrangement creates a dialogue between the intimate interior and the expansive exterior.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (French:; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship.
