Henri Matisse was asked in 1952 to create a colour lithograph for the Centenery of Mourlot. The famous printing studio in Paris would be celebrated it's 100 years existence with...
Henri Matisse was asked in 1952 to create a colour lithograph for the Centenery of Mourlot. The famous printing studio in Paris would be celebrated it's 100 years existence with a special exhibition at Galerie Kléber. Before the poster edition was printed, a small number (probably in the region of 100) of lithographs without the lettering were issued which were distributed as a collectors impression.
Matisse created this lithograph in vibrant colours as a thank you to Ferdinand Mourlot, who introduced Matisse in the medium of colour lithography. At the later stages of the artist his life, Mourlot explained to Matisse that lithography was the perfect medium to reproduce his colourful cut-out compositions.