Artwork
Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne, Seated, 1918
Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne, Seated, 1918 is an oil painting by Amedeo Modigliani. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the Israel Museum. Created in 1918, this oil painting portrays a seated woman rendered in Modigliani’s characteristic simplified manner.
About this work
Overview
Her posture is upright, hands resting together on her lap, and she is dressed in a blue top and dark skirt, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders.
Created in 1918, this oil painting portrays a seated woman rendered in Modigliani’s characteristic simplified manner. The figure occupies the central space, seated on a chair with a wooden headboard behind her, against a muted beige‑brown backdrop. Her posture is upright, hands resting together on her lap, and she is dressed in a blue top and dark skirt, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is Jeanne Hébuterne, an artist’s model who was also Modigliani’s companion and frequent subject. Their personal relationship informs the intimate composition, while the restrained setting and direct gaze suggest a quiet, contemplative presence rather than narrative detail.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the work employs Modigliani’s signature elongation of the neck and facial features, combined with bold, flowing lines that define the form. The palette is limited to earthy tones and a few accent colors, emphasizing volume through minimal shading and a flat, expressive surface.
History & Provenance
After its creation in Paris, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Israel Museum, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. Its provenance reflects the artist’s posthumous reputation and the museum’s focus on early 20th‑century European art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (US: ; Italian: ; 12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the École de Paris who worked mainly in France.
