Modern and Contemporary Art

Henri Matisse first visited Morocco in 1912, particularly drawn to the rich culture and vibrant atmosphere in the city of Tangier. His experiences there had a profound impact on his artistic style throughout his career. While in Tangier, Matisse created a triptych of paintings for his patron, the Russian collector Ivan Morozov. Included in the triptych is a colorful view out the window, a vase of flowers on the windowsill and a cluster of buildings in the distance. The present drawing served as an early expression of this open window theme, a motif he revisited again and again. Vue de la Fenêtre, Tanger I was featured in a special exhibition entitled “Le Maroc de Matisse,” dedicated to the Moroccan triptych in the Pushkin Museum collection, a rare opportunity to view it outside of Russian at L'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in 1999-2000.