Notes

Henri Matisse first sat for Henri Cartier-Bresson at the end of 1943 … The world-famous artist had duodenal cancer and believed himself to be dying. Matisse hated to be photographed and during his sittings, Cartier-Bresson would sit in the corner of the room in silence for hours whilst the artist and his model, Lydia Delectorskaya, continued their work. The photograph shows the artist with a pencil in one hand and a dove in the other, with a sketchbook open on his lap.

The cages surrounding Matisse highlight his passion for collecting birds from local markets. As well as doves, he kept songbirds, and would allow all of them to fly freely around the house, which was shared with his cats … Cartier-Bresson’s photograph exists as an important document which depicts Matisse as accurately as can be, in his home environment.¹

1.Huxley-Parlour Gallery,’ Henri Matisse at his Home, ‘Le Rêve’, by Henri Cartier- Bresson’, https://huxleyparlour.com/ henri-matisse-at-his-home-le-reve-byhenri- cartier-bresson/

 

Provenance

Hindman Auctioneers, Chicago.

Literature

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1968) The World of Cartier-Bresson, New York: Viking Press, another print from the edition illustrated as plate 121.

Clément Chéroux (2014) Henri Cartier-Bresson: Here and Now, London: Thames and Hudson, illustrated as plate 283.

Jean Clair and Philippe Arbaizar (2006) Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, the Image and the World, London: Thames and Hudson, illustrated as plate 200.

Henri Galassi (2010) Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century, New York: MoMA, illustrated as plate 226.

Phillips (2017) Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Eye of the Century, auction catalogue, New York: Phillips, illustrated as figure 34.

Jean-Pierre Montier (1996) Henri Cartier-Bresson and the Artless Art, London" Little Brown, illustrated as plate 277.