Published 1943, Paris. Limited Edition, 950.

The original drawings in charcoal, crayon, pencil and ink were executed in 1941-42 and published by Martin Fabiani in 1943 in this edition limited to 950 copies (this is #794), under the title DESSINS: THEMES ET VARIATIONS (Drawings: Themes and Variations) and with an introduction, “Matisse-en-France,” by Louis Aragon. It consisted of 158 drawings, chosen and organized by Matisse into 17 themes (A-P) with 3 to 19 variations, i.e., drawings per theme.

 

Quoted prices include professional framing and shipping, but if you prefer, feel free to use the Contact Us page to make an offer for artwork with or without the framing.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of "Themes et Variations"...
In 1942, after stomach surgery and a long convalescence, Matisse moved to Nice. Since he was confined to bed much of the time and forced to alter his habits, he started working - sitting in bed or in a wheelchair - on a series of drawings. To a friend he writes in mid 1941: “I am also still preoccupied with the idea of a book of reproductions of my drawings…. I want something good or I want northing at all; all the more as with the publisher Fabiani I have carte blanche.”

How important and satisfying the work on the series was for Matisse is best expressed in his own words in a letter to his daughter: “For a year I have made a very considerable effort, one of the most important of my life. I have perfected my drawing and made surprising progress, like ease and sensibility liberally expressed, with a great variety of sensations and a minimum of means. It’s like a flowering. And it’s one of the things for which I wanted to continue living. I did an abundant quantity of drawings that are completely surprising. They will be reproduced in a book…. They are made up of a series of which the initial drawing for each series is a charcoal study giving way to a series of pen or pencil drawings emerging like perfumes from the original drawing…”

Today, 60 years after publication, few portfolios have survived. This is only the second one acquired by the gallery in sixteen years.