Portraits

Monte-Carlo: André Sauret, 1954. First edition. Fine/Fine. Number 2819 of 2850 copies. Fine in nearly Fine wrapper and case. Bound in cardstock boards in original publisher's glassine dust jacket, original lithographed wrapper, and slipcase. Containing an original lithographed frontispiece and reproductions of Matisse's portraits on wove paper (60 printed in black and white with 33 color plates tipped in the second half of the volume). Maroon slipcase with title on spine (other copies from this run in light blue slipcase). Immaterial scuffing on case exterior and minor fading to spine although maintaining dark blue color to title. Glassine jacket with small area of foxing on upper left of back panel. Internal contents are fresh and appear virtually unread.

A fantastic book by French artist Henri Matisse celebrating what he felt was becoming a forgotten genre (and what was also one of the major themes in his oeuvre)—portraiture—with all images explicitly chosen by the artist himself. He also specifically designed both the cover and frontispiece for this publication, which would be the last book produced by the artist before his death, in November of that year. Matisse's vibrant prints leave one in no doubt as to why he is considered one of the most influential artists of the late 19th and early 20th century. Fine in Fine dust jacket.