In 1920, weary of cold Parisian winters and on the advice of Matisse, Marquet headed to North Africa, to visit Morocco and Algeria. Marquet was fascinated by the green trees, minaret skylines and lively ports, and found the intense light and dense shadows perfect for creating the modernist reductions of colour, tone and form which characterise his oeuvre.

After marrying in 1923, Marquet and his Algerian born wife Marcelle, spent nearly every winter in North Africa, especially during the interim war years. Intrigued yet often unnerved by the foreignness of the place, Marquet turned to his wife to interpret language and customs. His work of the following decade expresses an extra dimension; a softening and appreciation of Marcelle’s happiness at the familiar surroundings, and an assimilation of their overall contentment.

Alongside Matisse, Marquet was central to the exploration and development of evocative line, and is recognised as an exceptional draughtsman. This beautiful portrait of two Algerian women was painted during Marquet’s first visits to North Africa and exhibits his characteristic and elegant linear minimalisation. The subtle tones and delicate lines create an evocative vision of North African culture, capturing the essence of the scene through the scarcest of touches.