Girl with Brown Curls

Henri Matisse’s Girl with Brown Curls is one among hundreds of his portraits of beautiful women. Like many others, she is centered within the composition, nearly filling the frame. Surrounding her is the artist’s signature backdrop of flowered cloth or wallpaper. However, the young woman depicted here acknowledges neither the presence of the artist nor the viewer. Instead, with half of her face and neck cast in shadow, she stares vacantly into space. Her thoughts are her own.