Head of a Young Girl (Tête de fillette)

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

The young sitter portrayed here is Janine, the daughter of Jean Chaurand-Naurac, a friend of Matisse's and like him, a former student of Gustave Moreau. As Janine's mother was ill and her father had left to join his regiment during the war, Matisse welcomed her into his home. In line with his other portraits of children, Matisse's priority was not resemblance to the sitter but a psychological description. Here, Janine looks older than in a contemporary drawing and photograph and bears a slight expression of surprise.

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