Original Travel Poster - Nice, Travail et Joie, by Henri Matisse - 1947

Created in 1947 by Henri Matisse for the city of Nice, this travel poster titled “Travail et Joie” (“Work and Joy”) is a true ode to Mediterranean light and the art of southern living. Printed by the renowned Mourlot studio, it stands among the most iconic collaborations between the artist and the Parisian master lithographer.

The interior scene, rendered in a free and vibrant graphic language, unfolds a bouquet of elements dear to Matisse: fruit on a table, decorative curtains, stylized branches, and ornamental forms. The palette, dominated by red, yellow, and blue, radiates a restrained, almost contemplative joy. Altogether, it evokes the fusion of everyday life and artistic creation so central to Matisse’s vision. The handwritten inscription at the bottom of the poster, “Nice, Travail et Joie - H. Matisse,” adds a personal and generous final touch to the composition.

Printed in lithography by Mourlot in a 38.98 x 24.4 inches format, linen-backed and in B+ condition, this poster retains its vibrant pictorial charm.