“Self Portrait”
After seeing so many paintings depicting Jeanne Hébuterne by the artist, Amedeo Modigliani, it’s interesting to see one from her own perspective…
This oil on board painting, titled “Self Portrait”, was created by the French artist, Jeanne Hébuterne, in 1917. Painted in the Expressionist art style, Hébuterne created this piece at 19 years old. It was the same year that she met the Italian artist, Amedeo Modigliani, for whom she was a muse and constant companion for the remainder of her short life. Self-portraits, like this one from 1916, were a common theme in her work.
Like her older brother, Hébuterne was an aspiring artist. Hébuterne worked as a figure model before subsequently starting art school herself in 1916 at the Académie Colarossi in Paris, France. Hébuterne was pale with bright blue eye, and dark auburn hair that she often wore in braids. Because of this, the other students nicknamed her “Noix-de-Coco” or “Coconut”.
In 1920, within 24 hours of the death of her lover and companion from tuberculosis, the completely devastated Hébuterne jumped out of the fifth story window of her parents’ home, killing herself and her 8-month-old unborn child. Hébuterne was only 21 years old. As she died so young, only about 25 paintings by Hébuterne survive to this day.
This “Self Portrait” sold in October 2018 at a Christie’s auction for €247,500 and is currently in a private collection.
For more on Jeanne Hébuterne, please visit her short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
