Modigliani Unmasked

Bold and Sensuous at the Jewish Museum

Landing Page Image: Amedeo Modigliani, "Caryatid", 1911; Header image: Amedeo Modigliani - "Female Nude Lying on her Left Side" , 1909

BY: PROVOKR Editors

The exhibit at the Jewish Museum in New York looks at the artist after he arrived in Paris in 1906. In these years prior to World War l, Modigliani stopped painting and focused on drawing and sculpture. The works are arranged thematically and reveal the artist emerging. There are 130 drawings, 12 paintings and 7 sculptures in the curation. A large selection of the work comes from Modigliani’s first patron Dr. Paul Alexandre. some of the work displayed is rare. The exhibition also includes a selection of life studies and nudes which are breathtaking. Among these are of the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova whose exotic presence inspires Modigliani to introduce her to Egyptian art and in turn, the influences of Egyptian art in his work are felt everywhere.

Modigliani, an Italian Sephardic Jew, first experienced true antisemitism in Paris. In Italy, he did not feel ostracized for being Jewish. In Paris Modigliani started to introduce himself as, “My name is Modigliani. I am Jewish.” As a form of protest, he was refusing to assimilate and railed against the idea of racial purity in French culture. He began to boldly explore identity in this artistic melting pot in Paris. His drawings are stylized and very influenced by masks. You can also see him explore the small differences in a race through the mouths, eyes, and noses. Under his hand, simple sketches become studied explorations and reveal exquisite influences and yield amazing portraits. A beautiful curation unfolds like Modigliani’s work – full of imagination and incredibly transformative.

Amedeo Modigliani, "Nude with a Hat" 1908 Painting exhibited at Modigliani Unmasked at the Jewish Museum
Amedeo Modigliani, “Nude with a Hat”, 1908

 

Amedeo Modigliani, "Seated Female Nude, Back View, Three Quarters to the Left, 1908 painting exhibited at the Jewish Museum
Amedeo Modigliani, “Seated Female Nude, Back View, Three Quarters to Left”, 1908                             Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London

 

Amedeo Modigliani painting, "unfinished portrait of paul alexandre, 1913 exhibited at modigliani unmasked at the jewish museum
Amedeo Modigliani, “Unfinished Portrait of Paul Alexandre”, 1913
Private collection on long-term loan to the Musée Des Beaux-Arts, Rouen

 

Amedeo Modigliani, "Study for the Amazon" painting exhibited at the Jewish Museum, Modigliani Unmasked
Amedeo Modigliani, “Study for the Amazon”

 

Amedeo Modigliani, “Luna Czechowska”, 1919

 

Amedeo Modigliani, “Caryatid”, c. 1911
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf

 

Amedeo Modigliani, “The Jewess”, 1908
Laure Denier Collection, Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London

Tags: