How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 57th work to introduce for this
week is “Almaisa seated” in
1916.
This work is an expressionist style
portrait and an oil painting on a canvas with the size of 92 x 54 cm, and it is
kept in private collection in Basel, Switzerland. Modigliani's signature is at the
bottom right and the model's name is found from Modigliani's handwritten
"ALMAISA" at the top right.
The nationality of the model can be
seen from the comparison with the “Algerian woman Almaisa”, painted by
Modigliani, which is currently owned by the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, Germany. It is certain that both works are
the same woman, so the nationality of the model in this work is an Algerian.
Algerian woman Almaisa
Museum Ludwig
Modigliani painted several works of
Almaisa as a model including nudes and portraits. This is one of the portraits that
Modigliani painted after giving up the sculpture in 1914. At the time, Modigliani
was keen on drawing portraits of his friends, many of them from the front like
this work.
The model of this work, Almaisa
from Algeria, is dressed in black, in harmony with her dark black hair and
black eyes. And in order to emphasize the dark feeling of the model, Modigliani
further emphasized the dark image of the model by drawing black outlines on the
face, including eyes, nose, and mouth, and drawing the eyebrows dark. Also, the
dark and heavy background plays a role in supporting the dark image of the
model, giving the image of the model more stability.
Nude on sofa (Almaisa)
In this work, the
elongation of the body, one of the characteristics of the Modigliani’s painting
styles, appears in the neck, and such characteristic is not greatly appeared on
the face.
The role that alleviates the overall dark image of the model is the
collar of clothes the model is wearing. Also, unlike other works, it is unique
that model is wearing a lot of accessories such as earrings, necklaces, and
bracelets.
The model is staring Modigliani in front, and it seems to see her
willingness and passion to do her best as a role of the model for Modigliani,
who is drawing this painting.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment