“Jeannette I,” a notable sculpture by the illustrious artist Henri Matisse, dates back to the early 20th century, specifically between 1910 and 1913. This bronze piece is recognized as an expressive work within the Expressionism movement and belongs to the series of five busts of Jeanne Vaderin. The artwork can be viewed by the public at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.
The artwork in question is a bronze bust that reflects Matisse’s distinctive approach to portraiture, capturing both the physical likeness and emotional state of the subject, Jeanne Vaderin. The bronze carries a sense of organic movement and emotion, characteristic of Expressionist works, where artists aimed to convey subjective feelings and experiences rather than objective reality. The surface of the bust is textured, showing the artist’s hand and the malleability of the modeling process, bearing hallmarks of Matisse’s explorations in sculptural form that often paralleled his innovations in painting. The forceful modeling of the features exudes a sense of the subject’s inner life, providing a commanding presence that invites viewers to engage with it not just visually, but also emotionally.
