From 1941to 1944 Matisse devoted much of his time to book illustration. In 1942, he selected Poèmes de Charles d’Orléans for illustration. The poems were composed by Charles d’Orleans who is considered one of the greatest French poets writing in the courtly tradition. As one might expect, the poems were filled with topics of chivalry and romance. In this artistic adaptation of a poem, a woman gazes upon the viewer. Her classically styled hair and jewelry create a vision of elegance and class. The simplicity of the image is striking as Matisse renders his character in detail through single-colored lines. This work singularly combines medieval literary traditions with modern artistry, a true mark of Matisse’s mastery.
