Portrait of a Young Woman
- Original dimensions
- 28 x 45.7 cm
- Museum
- Yale University Art Gallery
- Year
- 1918
Scene depicted
The canvas “Portrait of a Young Woman” presents a delicate female figure, subjected to gentle introspection. Her elongated features, marked by the softness of her expression, seem to probe the depths of the human soul. The composition, both simple and charged with emotion, embodies Modigliani's pictorial quest for pure beauty, transcending the viewer's gaze.
Historical context
Created in 1918, this painting is an iconic work by the famous artist Amedeo Modigliani , fitting into the tradition of the avant-garde movement that marked the city of Paris and Europe at the time. This canvas , now displayed at the Yale University Art Gallery , embodies the very essence of artistic modernity in a post-war context, where the quest for expression and color reached its full extent.
Place in the artist's career
This painting is positioned at the heart of Modigliani's career, illustrating his distinctive style at a key moment of his artistic maturity. In parallel, other works such as “Reclining Nude” and “Portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne” show the evolution of his technique and themes, where intimacy and profound humanism converge.
Anecdote
“I paint women as I see them, without artifice or masks.” This quote, attributed to Modigliani, evokes the moment when he stood in front of the model in golden light, one spring morning. This fleeting passage of beauty and grace managed to capture the feminine essence, transforming the painting into a true masterpiece .