Madame Kisling
- Original dimensions
- 33.2 x 46.2 cm
- Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- Year
- 1917
Scene depicted
“Madame Kisling” depicts a woman with a penetrating gaze, enveloped in an atmosphere of mystery and beauty. With her elongated neck and expressive face, the pictorial work wonderfully illustrates the feminine ideal dear to Modigliani. The canvas is an ode to emotion, revealing the meanders of the human soul and the depth of the attachment that the artist had for his models.
Historical context
It was in 1917, in the heart of Paris, that this painting was born. In the tumultuous context of World War I, Modigliani, one of the major figures of the modern artistic movement, managed to capture the essence of his time through this canvas . Now exhibited at the National Gallery of Art , this painting measures 33.2 by 46.2 cm, testifying to the master's skill and the pure emotion that his work conveys.
Place in the artist's career
This painting represents a crucial step in Modigliani's career, marking the transition to artistic maturity. Alongside works such as “Reclining Nude” and “Portrait of a Woman,” Madame Kisling fits into a stylistic evolution where the search for purity and simplicity forms the consolidation of his aesthetic language.
Anecdote
Modigliani once stated: “Every face I paint is a part of my soul.” It was in the intimacy of a small Parisian studio, illuminated by the soft morning light, that he found inspiration for “Madame Kisling.” This moment of creation, unique and precious, gave life to a composition that vibrates where each brushstroke seems to whisper the secrets of an existence.