Matisse, Henri | Le lanceur de couteaux, from Jazz, 1947 — available on Composition Gallery

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Original pochoir on Arches wove paper. - Edition:100 ex. without centerfold in the plates. Next to the regular edition of 250 copies with center fold. - Printed by Edmond Vaireland, Draeger Frères, Paris - Published by Teriade, Paris - In excellent condition. One small restored tear (1 cm) and crease in the upper left corner and some faint discoloration spots. - Claude Duthuit, Henri Matisse: catalogue raisonné des ouvrages illustrés, Paris, 1988, no. 22, pp. 177 (illustrated in color)

Le lanceur de couteaux (The Knife Thrower) from Jazz (1947) by Henri Matisse exemplifies the artist’s late-career mastery of the pochoir technique. Using bold, organic cut-out forms in vibrant magenta, lavender, cobalt, and black, Matisse arranges silhouettes that suggest motion and duality—likely representing both the knife thrower and the target. The composition plays with symmetry and negative space, using stylized leaf-like shapes to create visual rhythm. Published by Tériade and printed by Draeger Frères, this pochoir was part of a rare edition of 100 impressions issued without the centerfold, unlike the standard version. Originally conceived as part of the Jazz portfolio—a landmark artist’s book—this work reflects Matisse’s interest in theatrical themes and the dynamism of performance. The poetic abstraction and color harmonies evoke joy, tension, and spectacle through visual metaphor, making it one of the most iconic images from Jazz.

Henri Matisse (France, 1869–1954) was a pioneer of Fauvism, celebrated for his vibrant use of color and bold, expressive forms. His work spanned painting, sculpture, and paper cut-outs, with masterpieces like The Red Room and his Blue Nudes. Matisse's innovative approach continues to influence modern art and design.

Henri Matisse

Le lanceur de couteaux, from Jazz, 1947

Name: Le lanceur de couteaux, from Jazz, 1947
SKU: 15888
Price: 22900.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Mixed Media

Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.

Edition

Edition of 100 + 250

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Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 10,500

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Drawing is putting a line around an idea.

- Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse was a French artist whose pioneering use of color and innovative techniques established him as one of the most influential figures in modern art. His practice spanned painting, sculpture, printmaking, and later, his renowned cut-out collages. As a leader of the Fauvist movement, Matisse used bold, non-naturalistic colors and expressive brushstrokes to create works that conveyed joy and emotion. His vibrant palette and simplified forms challenged traditional ideas of representation, focusing instead on harmony and the emotional impact of art.

In the later years of his career, Matisse developed his iconic 'cut-outs,' where he used scissors to create dynamic shapes from painted paper. This revolutionary technique demonstrated his lifelong commitment to exploring the essence of form and color. Themes of nature, human figures, and interior spaces permeate his work, which celebrates beauty and vitality. Matisse’s legacy stands alongside that of Picasso, shaping the course of 20th-century art and inspiring countless generations of artists.

Henri Matisse

Le lanceur de couteaux, from Jazz, 1947

42 x 65 cm

Language & Currency

Henri Matisse