How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 37th work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Leon Indenbaum (1915)”.
This work is a portrait of an
expressionist style and an oil painting on canvas with the size of 54.6 x 45.7
cm.
The model of this work, Leon
Indenbaum, was a Russian sculptor and artist who was born on December 10, 1890
and died on September 29, 1981.
He lived in La Ruche from 1911 to
1913, when he seems to have met Modigliani.
Given that the model, Leon
Indenbaum, was a person who had a kind and generous personality, paradoxically,
it looks so cold in contrast to the model's kindness and generosity. It is also one of the few portraits
of Modigliani whose tones are so cold. The extreme paleness of the very
emaciated face with the frozen gaze contrasts with the blue-gray sweater and
dark background.
Modigliani signed
"MODIGLIANI" at the bottom right, and at the top of the background, he
wrote the text "INDE BAUM", the name of the model, with an inverted
"N" letter mixed with white and black paints and omitted middle
letter “N”. The used handwriting feels as if it
is written on a marble to emphasize the sculptural effect.
There are several reasons why
Modigliani marked the model's name on his work, one of which was a sign of
friendship and gratitude for the help he received from his friends who were
artists or dealers.
Interestingly, the X-ray photograph
of this work on August 19, 2011 revealed that other painting exists under the
portrait.
This is probably the still life
described in the "Reminiscences" of Henry Pearlman, who met Leon
Indenbaum in person and recorded his story.
Looking at his memoirs, one night,
Modigliani was drunk and met Indenbaum at a cafe and said that if Indenbaum
provides canvas and easel, Modigliani wants to paint his portrait.
The next morning, at 9 o'clock in
the morning, Modigliani arrived in his studio and started painting.
At the time, Indenbaum had many
paintings of various artists in his studio. Modigliani turned down several
paintings he thought they were too good to destroy. Then, he picked up a still-life painting
that he thought it could be sacrificed. He removed the heavy paint and
started to paint his portrait on the painting.
After working for about 4 hours a
day each morning for 3 days, the portrait was completed. Once he completed the painting,
Modigliani gave the portrait to Indenbaum for a gift, despite that he would
insist to pay for the painting. However, a few weeks later,
Indenbaum sold this portrait due to lack of money.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment