Reflection in the Mirror

• Henri Matisse (1869–1954)
• Early 1923
• Charcoal on paper
• Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
• (1975.1.669)

Henri Matisse explored the effects of light and shadow on the nude body of a woman leaning against a full-length mirror in this charcoal drawing. With black lines, smudged grays in varying tones, and highlights of white, he effectively conveyed the solidity of the human form. The woman’s sturdy body fills the picture plane, while her reflection in the mirror creates a striking contrast of light.