Painted in the final years of John Lyman’s distinguished career, La jupe verte exemplifies the artist’s lifelong commitment to the harmonious interplay of form and colour. A seminal figure in Canadian modernism and founder of the Contemporary Arts Society in Montreal, Lyman was deeply invested in defining the human figure within a modernist framework—an endeavor he returned to repeatedly throughout his career.

In La jupe verte, a quiet intensity emerges from the poised stillness of the sitter and the chromatic tension between the deep green of the skirt and the muted tones of the surrounding interior. The composition resonates with the influence of Henri Matisse, with whom Lyman shared both a personal friendship and an enduring artistic affinity. The model’s averted gaze, softened outlines and elegantly draped clothing reflect Lyman’s sensitivity to psychological nuance and his gift for conveying character through understated gestures and subtle shifts in posture.

This late work reveals a distilled clarity characteristic of Lyman’s mature style—intimate, contemplative and assured. La jupe verte stands as a rare and evocative example from one of Canada’s most influential modernists, encapsulating his vision of figuration that is at once lyrical, modern and profoundly human.

For the biography on Lillian Mayland McKimm in PDF format, please click here.