“Jeannette II” is a bronze sculpture by Henri Matisse, created between 1910 and 1913. This artwork falls within the Expressionism movement and is one of the “Five busts of Jeanne Vaderin” series. It is part of the collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The artwork depicts a bust of a female figure, rendered with an expressive, artistic touch that emphasizes the inner emotional experience over realistic depiction. The sculpture captures a sense of movement and fluidity in the medium of bronze, which is both paradoxical and indicative of Matisse’s skill and the expressive aims of the movement he was associated with. The figure’s features are abstracted; smooth planes combine with more textured areas to create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The subject is mounted on a pedestal that provides a stark contrast to the textural richness of the bust itself. The overall effect is one of profound emotion and psychological depth, as typical of the Expressionist intent to evoke mood and feeling.
