The artwork “Two Leaved Screen, Leda and the Swan (recto)” was created by the artist Matthew Smith in 1925. Adhering to the Fauvism movement, this piece is a mythological painting that depicts the well-known narrative of Leda and the Swan.
The artwork is a double-paneled composition, united in theme yet divided in physical space. It portrays the interaction between Leda and the swan, a subject rooted in classical mythology. The colors are robust and expressive, characteristic of the Fauvist style, with energetic strokes and a vivid color palette. The figures are somewhat abstracted and amorphous, invoking an emotional intensity rather than a precise realism. The depiction is both dynamic and intimate, enveloped in a spectrum of colors that evoke the fervent tones Fauvism is celebrated for.