“Jeannette V,” a bronze sculpture by Henri Matisse created between 1910 and 1913, is a testament to the Expressionist art movement. This artwork forms part of the series titled “Five busts of Jeanne Vaderin,” and is currently housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The artwork reveals a striking rendering of a human bust which suggests a distinct departure from classical representation towards a more stylized and expressive form. Matisse’s manipulation of the bronze medium achieves a balance between abstraction and figuration. The sculpture showcases an exaggerated treatment of the facial features, and the surfaces possess a textural quality that displays the artist’s hand. Dramatic contrasts between smooth and rough areas create rhythmic patterns of light and shadow across the form, emphasizing the emotional depth and intensity characteristic of Expressionism. The depiction of the subject, while still retaining the essence of human likeness, is interpreted in a manner that aligns more closely with the artist’s internal vision than with a lifelike portrayal.
