Woman with Red Hair
- Original dimensions
- 60.7 x 92.1 cm
- Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- Year
- 1917
Scene depicted
The painting “Woman with Red Hair” presents a captivating representation of a woman with an elongated face and delicate features, where the fiery color of her hair contrasts with a more neutral background. The relaxed pose of the figure reflects a disturbing intimacy, propelling the viewer into a silent dialogue with the work. The use of stylized forms and the fluidity of the line contribute to creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere, making this painting a gateway to a rich and complex inner world.
Historical context
Created in 1917 in Paris, this painting is emblematic of the artistic movement of modernism . Amedeo Modigliani , an artist of Italian origin, captured the expression of modernity through this pictorial work, reflecting a time when artistic experimentation was taking flight. Today, the painting rests in the collections of the National Gallery of Art , in the heart of Washington, D.C., where it continues to fascinate art lovers with its depth and elegance, spanning 60.7 x 92.1 cm.
Place in the artist's career
Set in a period of creative maturity, the painting “Woman with Red Hair” is a highlight of Modigliani's career. This masterpiece sits at a crossroads of his previous work, such as “Reclining Nude” (1917) and “Portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne” (1918), showing a continuous evolution in the expressive treatment of faces and bodies. Each painting reveals a new dimension of his unique style, where emotion and technique converge.
Anecdote
“Art is not found in the subject, but in the soul of the observer,” Modigliani might have said one sunny morning as he walked along the Seine, his thoughts clouded by the beauty of the faces he encountered. It was in this cocoon of inspiration that the painting was born, capturing the essence of a woman with fiery hair, symbolizing his vision of timeless and ethereal beauty.