From late 1913 to early 1917, Matisse entered a period of prolific printmaking, which included the creation of monotypes, the first and only time of his career he worked in this medium. These prints reflected the everyday world around him, including scenes from the studio and portraits of family and friends. Accounts from those close to him recall that he often executed these prints during breaks from painting sessions – presumably the immediacy and directness of the medium was a welcome relief from the arduous development of his paintings and offered the artist an opportunity to work through ideas quickly and concisely. The monotypes created during this period explore composition and subject shared with ongoing paintings from this time, revealing insights into the artist’s working process.