“Portrait of Emile Lejeune,” created by Chaim Soutine in 1925 in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, is an oil painting on canvas exemplifying the Expressionism movement. This portrait is currently housed in the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, France.
The artwork depicts an individual named Emile Lejeune, rendered with distinctive expressive brushstrokes characteristic of Soutine’s style. The subject appears to have elongated facial features and exaggerated, almost caricature-like proportions. Various shades of muted, somber colors dominate the composition, with stark contrasts in light and shadow providing a dramatic intensity to the portrait. The background is composed of swirling, abstract forms that further enhance the viewer’s focus on the central figure. The overall emotional intensity and distortion present in the artwork align it with Expressionist ideals, emphasizing the artist’s unique interpretation of the human form.