Nu de dos (4e état)

»The Back of a Female Nude IV« from Henri Matisse is the concluding work in a series produced between 1909 and 1930. The first in this four-part series depicts the rear view of a female nude, which, with its naturalistic execution, is still clearly recognizable. In contrast, almost 20 years later, »Back IV« shows a completely abstracted figure. The female body is now dissected into three strictly vertical columns with a long ponytail dividing the two halves of the body. The outlines of the volumes thus gain in weight, emphasizing the work’s statuesque qualities. A motif of movement, still found in the first version, has now completely disappeared. As in his paintings and graphic works, which made him one of the most important modernist artists, Matisse simplifies the natural form, emphasizing line and surface. Although he only engaged sporadically with sculpture, »Back IV« in particular illustrates his penchant for a radical simplification of form, which had an influence on subsequent generations of artists which cannot be underestimated.