Henri Matisse – Poesies Antillaises. 1972 Deluxe Portfolio Featuring 40 Portrait Lithographs

Poems by John-Antoine Nau. Paris: Fernand Mourlot, 1972 A luminous collaboration between poet and artist, Poesies Antillaises unites the lyrical verses of John-Antoine Nau with the expressive visual language of Henri Matisse. This Deluxe Edition, printed on Velin d'Arches, is presented loose in its original orange chemise with a lithographed manuscript title. It is accompanied by a suite of 12 lithographs of women's portraits on Japan paper, housed in a matching orange folder. Both are very well preserved in the original orange cloth clamshell box. This edition includes 28 full-page lithographs in brown, 27 initial letters, numerous ornamental drawings in blue that accompany Nau verses in French, 12 additional lithographs of women's portraits on Japan paper (exclusive to the first 50 copies), Complete of title page, justification, colophon, index of poems. Limited to 250 copies, this copy is number 19 of 50. Matisse conceived this portfolio as a tribute to his friend Nau, whom he met during a transformative journey to Martinique in the early 1900s. The island's vibrant spirit and natural beauty became a shared source of inspiration, reflected in both Nau's poetry and Matisse's imagery. A rare and deeply personal work, Poesies Antillaises stands as a testament to artistic friendship, travel, and the enduring dialogue between word and image. In very good condition. Ref.: Duthuit 37; Manet to Hockney, no. 129.