Think of Henri Matisse and what comes to mind? “The Snail”, a square of geometric brightly colored shapes made from cut-out paper. Or “Dance (I)”, a circle of pink figures on a blue and green background moving freely. Or how about “Interior with a Goldfish Bowl”, with its cool, dreamlike atmosphere. All speak of a love of form and vibrant color, and it is his use of color that is most noticeable in Montblanc’s new homage to Matisse.
With its Masters of Art range, the maker of luxury writing instruments produces dedicated series of limited-edition pens that channel the spirit of great artists, interpreting their works through intricate and skillful craftsmanship.
Now is the turn of Henri Matisse, giving us a collection based on five of his masterpieces. The pens’ fluid and organic shapes reference the artist’s sculptures; the clips nod to his cut-out work, “The Sheaf” (1953). And in keeping with the design principles of all the writing instruments in the Masters of Art series, the pens’ proportions conform approximately to the rules of the golden ratio, the mathematical principle considered to produce a satisfying and attractive aesthetic effect.
There are five designs in the new Montblanc collection, each taking a different artwork as its source of inspiration, and each representing a different period of Matisse’s creative journey. The tops of the caps display the star-shaped Montblanc logo in resin, stone, or shell.
The pens’ fluid and organic shapes reference the artist’s sculptures; the clips nod to his cut-out work, ‘The Sheaf’
“Blue Nude III” (1952), one of Matisse’s most famous works, informs the Masters of Art Homage to Henri Matisse Limited Edition 4810. Its blue and white lacquer celebrates the cut-out artwork, forming a seated female figure when you rotate the barrel. Platinum-coated fittings complement the design, and it is limited to 4,810 fountain pens and 4,810 rollerballs, the number representing the height of Mont Blanc in meters.
Limited Edition 888, meanwhile, references “The Romanian Blouse” (1940), a work that shows the artist’s interest in colorful textiles, costumes, and ornamentation. The vivid red and blue of the painting is echoed on the cap and barrel in textured lacquer, the embroidered motifs from the blouse translate to black and red lacquer details on the barrel and engravings on the cone, which is made of solid Au750 gold. Matisse’s drawing “Large Face (Mask)” (1952) appears on the solid Au750 gold nib.
In 1930 the artist visited Tahiti, and the painting “Window in Tahiti” (1935-36) lends its imagery to the Limited Edition 161. There are hand-engraved trees and a boat – things Matisse could see from his hotel window. The barrel is made from cocobolo wood carved with a geometric pattern based on the traditional tapa cloth Matisse brought back from his time in the South Seas. The 161 pieces that comprise the edition are a reference to the golden ratio, and the Au750 rose gold nib, which is in part rhodium-coated, shows the Greek letter Phi (Φ), representing its numerical value (1.618…), alongside details inspired by Matisse’s work “Polynesia, The Sky” (1946).
The earliest work referenced is 1910’s “The Dance II.” Limited Edition 96 is made up of only 96 pieces – the number a reference to the year 1896, the first in which he exhibited at the Salon des Beaux-Arts. Bronze dancers wind around the barrel and cap, contrasting with the turquoise and blue lacquer.
The rarest pen in this collection is the Limited Edition 8. Inspired by “Purple Robe and Anemones” (1937), an artwork of brilliant color, the solid Au750 white gold barrel and cap feature handcrafted enamel interpretations of the painting’s elements, like the striped robe and bouquet, while 3D engravings suggest the arabesque ornamentation of the painting’s table. Pavé-set diamonds crown the cap and cognac-colored diamonds run around both barrel and cap. The solid gold nib is set with a brilliant-cut diamond, with embossing inspired by Matisse’s “Large Face (Mask)” (1952).
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