Seated Riffian - Henri Matisse
Archival giclée
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Description
A striking portrait by Henri Matisse, painted during his time in Morocco, featuring bold colour blocks and a simplified, decorative composition.
Henri Matisse painted Seated Riffian during his second visit to Morocco between 1912 and 1913. The work depicts a member of the Riffian people, a Berber ethnic group from the Rif mountains. Matisse employs a non-naturalistic colour palette, using bold blocks of green, yellow, blue, and red to define the figure and the surrounding space. The subject wears a traditional djellaba, rendered with simplified forms and decorative accents that suggest the texture of the garment without resorting to academic realism.
The composition is notably flat, rejecting traditional perspective in favour of a decorative arrangement of colour fields. The figure sits centrally on a block-like stool, his posture rigid and frontal. Matisse uses thin, fluid paint application, allowing the canvas texture to remain visible in certain areas. The face is divided by light and shadow, with green tones applied to the skin, a characteristic choice for the artist during this period of his career. The background consists of vertical bands of colour, which serve to compress the pictorial space and push the figure towards the viewer.
This portrait reflects the artist's interest in the visual culture of North Africa, which he encountered during his travels. Rather than documenting the subject with ethnographic precision, Matisse focuses on the expressive potential of colour and line. The painting is part of a series of works produced in Tangier, where the artist sought to reconcile his interest in decorative patterns with the requirements of figurative painting. The work remains a clear example of his mature style, where the balance between abstraction and representation is maintained through the deliberate use of colour relationships.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Seated Riffian - Henri Matisse
Artist Biography
Henri Matisse
Throughout his prolific career, Matisse explored a wide range of mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, and his iconic paper cut outs. His work often centered on themes of joy, beauty, and the human figure, with famous pieces such as The Dance, Blue Nude, and Woman with a Hat housed in world renowned museums like MoMA, the Tate, and Centre Pompidou. Even in his later years, while confined to a wheelchair, Matisse continued to create with an astonishing energy and vision that has influenced generations of artists and designers.
Today, Henri Matisse remains a defining force in twentieth century art. His legacy is celebrated not only in prestigious galleries around the globe but also through high quality art prints that bring his timeless works into contemporary homes. With Solis Prints, Matisse’s radiant compositions are reproduced using museum grade giclée printing to ensure exceptional color depth, detail, and longevity, offering collectors and design lovers a striking way to enjoy his art every day.
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