Indiana University Indiana University IU

Browse the collection

The Knife Thrower

Artist Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954)
Title The Knife Thrower (Le Lanceur de couteaux)
Plate Number Plate XV, pages 106 and 107
Series Jazz
Date 1943–1947, published 1947
Medium Color pochoir (stencil) on paper
Dimensions Image: 16 5/8 × 25 5/8 in. (42.2 × 65.1 cm)
Sheet: 16 5/8 × 25 5/8 in. (42.2 × 65.1 cm)
Portfolio: 17 1/2 × 13 3/8 × 2 1/4 in. (44.5 × 34 × 5.7 cm)
Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 65.23.15

Share this artwork!

About this Work

Here, a circus knife-thrower (the energetic, sharply-pointed bright pink shape on the left) aims a knife at his target (the pale blue shape on the right). Henri Matisse saw a connection between the skills of the knife-thrower and the artist. Just as the knife-thrower must control a knife so that it will land as close as possible to the woman without actually touching her, the artist must control a pencil so that it will produce the exact line that is intended.

Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art has a complete copy of Matisse's Jazz (Eskenazi Museum of Art 65.23.1–.20) in its original slipcase bearing a personal inscription to the artist’s friend Jean Puy, a Post-Impressionist painter.


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

Publisher Tériade
Printer Edmond Vairel, Paris
Printer Draeger Frères, Paris
Plate Number Plate XV, pages 106 and 107
Series Title Jazz

Viewing Information
This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request.

 

Request this Image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request. This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.

Cite this Page
"The Knife Thrower | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=65.23.15