Henri Matisse first began experimenting with printmaking in the early 1900s, though it was not until the 1910s that he began to focus more seriously on etching. Working primarily in black and white, Matisse used the etching needle with the same sensitivity and spontaneity as his pencil or brush. While his paintings are often celebrated for their bold color and expressive forms, his etchings reveal a quieter, more intimate side of his artistry. He often returned to familiar subjects such as portraits, female nudes, and interior scenes, but here they were rendered in delicate, calligraphic lines.