Jeanne Hébuterne in yellow sweater 1918

Amedeo Modigliani painted this striking portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne with oil on canvas. The composition is deceptively simple: a seated figure defined by elongated forms and subtle color harmonies. The visual power resides in the formal interplay of shapes and lines. Modigliani's distinctive distortion of the human form is apparent in the swan-like neck and mask-like face. These stylistic choices invite us to consider the artist's engagement with primitivism and his interest in abstracting the figure to emphasize its essential, symbolic qualities. The eyes, notably absent of pupils, render the gaze inward, inviting introspection. The ochre sweater, juxtaposed against the cool blues and grays of the background, creates a subtle tension. We might ask, how does Modigliani use these formal elements not merely to represent, but to challenge our notions of beauty and representation itself? This work stands as a testament to Modigliani's ability to synthesize form, emotion, and intellectual inquiry on the canvas.