The Matisse Collection: Behind the Art

Aug 13, 2026, 2:02 PM•eastfork

A CLOSER LOOK First etched in 1929, Figure endormie sur fond moucharabieh (Sleeping Figure against a Mashrabiya Background) was created in Matisse's studio in Nice. The title refers to the carved lattice screen, or moucharabieh, that forms the patterned backdrop behind the reclining figure. Matisse first encountered moucharabiehs  during his travels in Morocco in 1912 and 1913. Decorative screens, textiles, and other North African objects remained part of his studio environment for many years and appear throughout works from this period. Printed as an etching on chine appliqué— a technique that adheres a delicate sheet of  paper to a heavier support during printing— the work demonstrates the clarity and restraint of Matisse's line. With only a few etched marks, the figure and the surrounding pattern are brought into quiet balance.

SELECTING THE ARTWORK Hand-selected for the Serving Platter by our founder, Alex, Figure endormie sur fond moucharabieh reveals another facet of Matisse's work. Stripped down to its essential lines, the composition offers an intimacy that has only deepened the more time Alex has spent with it.

“This etching is my favorite work of Matisse’s that we have incorporated into  the collection. There is a decisiveness in his work that can be deceiving. The line drawings in particular can feel this way, but it comes often after many studies and repetitions to find what he was looking for. This one is already hanging on our front porch, just as you enter the house, and it brings me joy every time I walk by it.” -Alex Matisse East Fork Founder & CEO

ETCHINGS IN CONVERSATION Jeune femme le visage enfoui dans les bras (Young Woman with Her Face Buried in Her Arms) is another 1929 work depicting a resting female figure, featured in our collection on The Mug. Together, the two works highlight Matisse's remarkable ability to evoke presence and emotion with only a few carefully etched lines.

The Mug Jeune femme le visage enfoui dans les bras

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