How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 55th work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Chaim Soutine” in 1916.
This work is an expressionist style
portrait and an oil painting on a canvas with the size of 100 x 65 cm, which is
currently in private collection.
Chaïm Soutine was a Russian painter
who was born on January 13, 1893 and died on August 9, 1943. He contributed
greatly to the expressionist movement while living and working in Paris.
He was born as the tenth of eleven
children from a poor Jewish tailor’s family living in Smilavichy in the Minsk
of the Russian Empire (presently Belarus). He studied at a small art academy in
Vilnius from 1910 to 1913. Moving to Paris in 1913 with his friends Pinchus
Kremegne and Michel Kikoine, Soutine studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under
Fernand Cormon.
Still Life with Apples, Wine, Vase and Cup, Pinchus Kremegne
Landscape with Figures, Michel Kikoine
A Harem, Fernand Cormon
For a time, he and his friends
lived at La Ruche. It was a residence for struggling artists in Montparnasse
where Soutine met and became friends with Modigliani.
He didn't even know how to use a
fork and a knife when he arrived in Paris because he had lived in extreme
poverty in his hometown. On the other hand, Modigliani, who
was well educated and cultured, made a lot of efforts to help Soutine when
becoming friends with him such as teaching him eating etiquette.
As a painter,
Soutine's style was opposed to that of Modigliani, and his work was wild,
expressive, and often even frightening.
Chemin de la Fontaine des Tins at Céret, Chaim Soutine
Soutine had never painted a
portrait of Modigliani, while Modigliani painted Soutine many times. Modigliani
may have often painted him to express their very close friendship and that they
had a lot of hard times together. Meanwhile, Soutine may not have dared to ask
Modigliani to pose, who was almost 10 years older than himself.
Chaim Soutine (c.1915)
Portrait of Chaim Soutine (1915)
Portrait of Chaim Soutine (1917)
The portrait
highlights the agony of the young artist, Soutine, who has yet to be
acknowledged for his worth through his gaze, the rebellious hair style and
reddish complexion. In addition, the contrast between the dark and gloomy tones
of the background and the beige-ochre color of the jacket further enhances the
agony of the model.
The particular position of Soutine’s fingers of his right
hand is thought to be the sign of the Jewish priest showing blessings. This can
be also seen as suggesting that Soutine of Jewish origin are from Jewish priest
family, but this is not certain.
However, one thing is certain: Such position
of the fingers is one of the many symbols that Modigliani liked to include in
his paintings.
Thank you.
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