Young Redhead in Evening Dress
- Original dimensions
- 73 x 116.2 cm
- Museum
- Barnes Foundation
- Year
- 1918
Scene depicted
In this painting, a young girl with fiery hair stands majestically, wrapped in a sumptuous evening dress. Her gaze, both melancholic and dreamy, evokes the subtlest human emotions. Through this representation, Modigliani seeks not only to show but to tell the story of a life rich in emotions, a scene frozen in time that blossoms before our eyes.
Historical context
Created in 1918, this painting embodies the vibrant context of a post-war Paris, where the modern movement and artistic effervescence are in full swing. Darkened by the trenches of war, Modigliani, then 33 years old, immortalizes beauty and grace through this canvas which is now housed at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Enriched with complex craftsmanship, the work measures 73 x 116.2 cm, testifying to the depth of an artistic heritage that transcends time.
Place in the artist's career
This canvas fits into a period of maturity for Modigliani, revealing a unique style compared to his earlier works such as “Portrait of a Woman” and “Reclining Nude.” While in his early works, an influence of cubism emerged, with Young Girl in a Red Dress , the artist achieves a mastery of portraiture that encapsulates intensified emotion and psychological depth.
Anecdote
“I have always wanted to capture the soul, the pure essence of my models,” Modigliani once said while contemplating the faces in a literary café in Montparnasse. The painting of this young girl in red, encountered fortuitously one summer morning, envelops the viewer in a scent of mystery and sweet nostalgia, elevating this masterpiece to a transcendent work of art that speaks to the heart.