It's an exhibition that seems deceptively simple: It presents the painted, drawn, and engraved portraits that Henri Matisse (1869-1954) made of his daughter, Marguerite Duthuit-Matisse (1894-1982). It is quite common for an artist to use their closest kin as models. But we are talking about Matisse, one of the most elusive artists of his time; and Marguerite, whose life was both remarkable and difficult, to say the least. One clue is enough to point out that their story is really not at all usual: the exhibition brings together nearly a hundred portraits of the daughter by the father. And yet, despite this very high number, it is not an exhaustive inventory.

Some of these artworks are very well known, such as Marguerite Reading from 1906 and Marguerite with Black Cat from 1910, which have appeared in most retrospectives and are found in every book. Others are much less famous, which by no means suggests they are less interesting, such as Mademoiselle Matisse in a Scottish Tartan Coat from 1918 and Sleeping Marguerite from 1920, which have been rarely displayed until now. And then, there are the drawings. Dozens of ink, charcoal, or pencil drawings, on notebook pages or fine paper, include some of the best by the artist.

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