Jean
Jansem

Jansem’s exploration of the human form is characterised by his focus on vulnerability and introspection. His figures, often elongated and seated, are studies in both physical and emotional fragility. Jansem’s works—like Modigliani’s—showcase the complexity of human frailty. His 1999 lithograph Repos is an example, depicting a young woman seated with her legs tucked in, arms wrapped around her knees. The delicate, linear composition, combined with a muted colour palette, enhances the figure’s melancholic and introspective posture. Jansem's ability to evoke nuances of the human condition through body language is central to his visual language.

Central to his identity as an artist is Jansem's blend of Armenian, Greek, and French cultural influences. This fusion is vividly captured in his 1951 oil painting Greek Fishermen, where Jansem draws inspiration from his time in Greece and his Armenian heritage. The figures in the painting, with their elongated forms and rough, textured strokes, evoke a sense of resilience. His portrayal of the fishermen captures their physical surroundings and conveys a deep sense of human endurance, linking his personal experiences of displacement with the universal themes of survival and community.

Jansem's printmaking, particularly his lithographs, serves as an extension of his broader practice. His 1999 lithograph Les Jambières Rouges exemplifies his ability to capture the human form with sensitivity and raw emotion. The image depicts a crouched figure with her body delicately contorted. Jansem's use of minimal lines and textured washes of colour imbues the figure with vulnerability and introspection, a hallmark of his work. Through printmaking, Jansem was able to explore themes of solitude and the human condition, taking advantage of the qualities of lithography to convey texture and movement.