How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 42nd work to introduce for this
week is “Pierrot (Self Portrait) (1915)”.
This work is an allegorical
painting of an expressionist style and an oil painting on cardboard with the
size of 43 x 27 cm. It is currently possessed by the National
Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen, Denmark.
National Gallery of Denmark
This work is a self-portrait of
Modigliani, who expressed himself as Pierrot, and is the only self-portrait
except the work that he painted in 1919.
Self-portrait (1919)
In this work, Modigliani reflected
Pierrot on himself in his memory, which he saw in the childhood at the Commedia
dell'arte (the improvised play that was popular in Italy between the 16th and
18th centuries).
A Commedia dell'arte street play during the carnival of Venice, Italy
The Pierrot was a subject that many artists were obsessed and
preferred, including Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Jacques Lipchitz and André
Derain. Modigliani often used Italian for the title of his work.
Pierrot, Pablo Picasso (1918)
Pierrot, Juan Gris (1921)
Pierrot, Jacques Lipchitz (1919)
Harlequin and pierrot, Andre Derain (1924)
In this work, however,
as if he wants to convey the French feeling itself, such as the feeling of the
pierrot (painting) of Antoine Watteau and the pierrot (mime) of Jean-Gaspard
Deburau, he used a French word, Pierrot instead of an Italian word, Pedrolino.
Pierrot, Antoine Watteau (c. 1718-1719)
Pierrots Repast, Deburau as Pierrot Gormand, Auguste Bouquet (c. 1830)
In this work, the speckled colors
of the model’s face and neck are reminiscent of the motley suit of the Pierrot,
a character in the Commedia dell'arte. The eye with a pupil also gives a
feeling of being submerged in the memories of his childhood when he saw the
Pierrot. In addition, the shadow in the background of the painting gives a
feeling of suggestion that Modigliani painted this work by reflecting his past
memories.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment