How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 40th work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Paul Guillaume (Novo Pilota) (1915)”.
This work is a portrait of an
expressionist style and an oil painting on cardboard with the size of 105 x 75
cm. Currently,
this work is owned by the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, France.
This work is a portrait of Paul
Guillaume, who was his friend and art dealer, painted by Modigliani in 1915,
Modigliani painted this work at 13
Rue Norvins, where Beatrice Hastings lived. Modigliani lived there with her at
the time and before her, Emil Zola lived.
Paul Guillaume, who was introduced to
Modigliani by Max Jacob in 1914, became the only buyer of Modigliani's work
from 1915 to 1916 and his first real dealer.
Paul Guillaume appeared Parisian
art scene in 1914, when he opened his first gallery on the rue de Mirosmesnil. Guillaume, who determined to escape
from the background of his poor family he was born at all cost, studied art at
the Montmartre cafés and began his art career by collecting Picasso's works and
African statues, and later became an expert especially on African statues.
One day, the owner of the garage,
where Guillaume worked to make his living, allowed him to display one of his
African statues in the garage window. At this time, the sculpture
displayed in the window was noticed by Apollinaire, who was a writer and an art
critic, and thus Guillaume thereafter was able to begin the life of art dealing
and research as full-time job. Thanks to Apollinaire, Max Jacob
and Waldemar George, Guillaume was able to expand his business, the art
dealing, and even maintained it during World War I.
For Modigliani, in an open letter
to Francis Carco, Guillaume wrote "When Max Jacob introduced Modigliani to
me in 1914, he was a sculptor who drew painting. Rightly or wrongly I felt
responsibility to urge Modigliani to paint rather than sculpture."
Unfortunately, Guillaume died at
the young age of 43, and a lot of suspicions especially related to his wife,
Domenica, were raised for his questionable death, and his wife was once accused
of the murder of Paul Guillaume. After Guillaume's death, Domenica,
who married French architect Jean Walter, decided to donate her ex-husband
Guillaume's collection to the French government, and since she died, Musée de
l'Orangerie possessed many pieces of his collection
This work is characterized by
containing many texts and symbols.
First of all, “A Star of David”
symbol and the text “STELLA MARIS” are displayed on the upper right of the
work, and his signature “MODIGLIANI”, the “swastika” symbol in the shape of a
broken cross and the year “1915” when Modigliani painted this work are
displayed on the lower right.
upper right
lower right
In addition, the text “PAUL
GUILLAUME” is written at the top left and the text “NOVO PILOTA” is written at
the bottom left with two lines ending “arrow”.
top left
bottom left
Let's summarize the meaning of
these texts and symbols that Modigliani used in this work.
First, the Star of David is
commonly used as a symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism.
Second, the Latin “Stella Maris,”
which translates into “star of the sea,” is one of the titles referring to the
Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Third, “swastika” is a broken
cross-shaped “卐” or “卍”, a geometrical figure and an ancient religious icon in the
Eurasian cultures, and used as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Indian
religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Swastika was also used as a symbol
of the German Nazis, but when Modigliani used this symbol in this painting, the
Nazis did not exist. Therefore, it is simply an ancient Sanskrit’s symbol.
Fourth, “NOVO PILOTA” means “new
pilot”.
Perhaps these texts and symbols
seem to be intended to express a sincere appreciation of Modigliani to Paul
Guillaume, who became working with him as his dealer, as well as implicitly to
express his Jewish origin.
Then, this work could be included
as one of the few that Modigliani expressed his Jewish identity in his works.
Thank you.
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