How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 72nd work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Elena Picard” in 1917.
This work is an expressionist style
portrait and an oil painting on a canvas with the size of 92.7 x 61.6 cm.
It was sold at auction at Sotheby’s
New York in 1987, and owned by the Solow Collection in New York, and now owned
by the Kimmel Collection in New York.
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| Sotheby's Auction House, New York City |
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| The painting framed at the Solow residence, New York (c.1996) |
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| The painting framed at the Kimmel residence, New York (2017) |
This work is also called as other
titles, such as “Elena Picard with necklace”, “Young girl with necklace” or “Red
hair woman with blue necklace.”
In this work, the dark and intense colors standing out first give the feeling of a painting of Fauvism. The model's body shape resembles a funnel, and the model's nose also having a funnel shape is balanced to the model's body shape. Also, the model tilted to the left is in balance with the chair shown to the right.
For model's fingers, the shape of the little fingers is unique so it seems that Modigliani painted and afterwards added the little fingers to the painting. Also, unlike other works, it is one of the characteristics of this work that the model is wearing an exceptionally many accessories such as necklaces, rings and bracelets.
The appearance of the model sitting with her hands folded and looking at the painter reminds of a high-class lady along with the accessories worn by the model. The white blouse and black skirt worn by the model stand out in contrast of colors, while the dark red background harmonizes with the colors of model's face and hair. Along with these colors, the dark outlines added to the model’s body and the distinctive model's eyes, nose, and mouth enhance the intensity of the painting.
The calm and modest expressions and postures, as well as the splendid costumes, remind of a calm and quiet high-class lady, but the intense colors seem to suggest that the model has a passionate character. Also, the elongated neck, one of the features of Modigliani’s paintings, is not seen in this work, and the extension of the body including the model's neck is not seen at all in this painting.
By adding dark color to the raised red hair and the area around the model, giving the feeling of rising flames, Modigliani converted the model's appearance which looks somewhat gloomy and recreated it as an intense image.
Among the paintings created by Modigliani, there are following works that seem to be the same figure as the model in this work.
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| The young Lolotte (1917) |
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| Woman bust with necklace (1916) |
Thank you.
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