The enigmatic and expressive Portrait of a Young Studio Assistant is typical of the bold brush and ink portraits that Matisse produced during the late forties and early fifties. The inscription of the verso of the sheet ("HM," "no 1 1952 S. Ph 107," and "21/D73 42 x 32.5") are characteristic archive and inventory desinations found on the artist's drawings.

The subject has been identified (by Matisse's grandson, Claude Duthuit, and by Duthuilt's research colleague, Wanda de Guebriant) as a young woman who worked as an assistant in Matisse's studio and also, from time to time, posed for the artist.

In addition to the drawing, the Bell Gallery collection contains five prints by Matisse. The three illustrated at left, as well as a portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire from 1944 and an undated Head of a Girl.