The artwork, “Head of Lorette with Curls,” was created by Henri Matisse in 1917, exemplifying the Post-Impressionist movement. It is a portrait with dimensions of 35 x 26.5 cm and currently resides within a private collection. The genre of this piece is portraiture, and it reflects Matisse’s distinctive style and use of color.
Henri Matisse’s “Head of Lorette with Curls” displays a stylized female face set against a solid, olive-hued background. The subject’s features are rendered with thick, bold outlines that emphasize the curves of her curls and the contours of her face. Her direct gaze captivates the viewer, while her lips are painted with a prominent crimson that contrasts with her pale complexion. The composition is noted for its simplicity and expressive quality, common features within Matisse’s portraiture. The portrait eschews detailed realism in favor of a more abstracted representation of the sitter, focusing on color and form to convey the essence of the subject.
