Henri Matisse
French, 1869–1954
The Serf
INV-6491
Henri Matisse
French, 1869–19541900–03, cast c. 1908
sculpturemodern and contemporary art
Date
1900–03, cast c. 1908
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
91.5 × 30.5 × 34.3 cm (36 × 12 × 13 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Edward E. Ayer Endowment in memory of Charles L. Hutchinson
Henri Matisse often turned to sculpture early in his career in an attempt "to put order into my feelings and find a style to suit me." More than half of his total output of sculpture dates to between 1900 and 1909, and these works reveal a deep interest in the human figure, as well as ancient and early modern works of art. The Serf, one of Matisse’s earliest sculptures, consumed him: he was reported to have spent up to 500 sessions with his model, Bevilaqua, who also posed for Auguste Rodin. The Art Institute’s work is an early cast (1908) of a total edition of 10 and was once owned by Matisse’s most enthusiastic early supporters, Michael and Sarah Stein.
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