Henri Matisse

Max Pellequer (banquier de Picasso), Paris
Acquis (probablement) auprès de celui-ci 

Executed on white wove paper, not laid down, floating in the mount. The sheet is deckled along the upper, lower and right edges. There is some very light foxing towards the ear of the figure (on the left ) and a minor 1 mm perforation to the paper in the lower right quadrant. Otherwise this work is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

dedicated 'à Max Pellequer', signed 'H. Matisse' and dated 'avril 48' (lower right), pencil on paper. Executed in April 1948.

Page précédente : Lydia Delectorskaya en 1937. 

Créer, c'est exprimer ce que l'on a en soi. Tout effort authentique de création est intérieur. Encore faut-il nourrir son sentiment, ce qui se fait à l'aide des éléments que l'on tire du monde extérieur. Ici intervient le travail, par lequel l'artiste s'incorpore, s'assimile par degrés le monde extérieur, jusqu'à ce que l'objet qu'il dessine soit devenu comme une part de lui-même, jusqu'à ce qu'il l'ait en lui et qu'il puisse le projeter sur la toile comme sa propre création. 

Henri Matisse
(in Dominique Fourcade, Ecrits et propos sur l'art, Paris, 1972  repris in Jacqueline & Maurice Guillaud, Matisse, Le Rythme et la ligne, Paris, 1987, p. 532)