Flower Vendor 1919

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of a woman, probably with oils, at some point during his short life. Look at those hands, how they clasp each other, and consider how alive a painting can be, even when it's still. Modigliani's application of paint is fascinating because it feels immediate, and yet also very considered. Up close, you can see the texture, the tiny peaks and valleys where he loaded the brush. The colours are earthy and muted, almost monochromatic except for her rosy cheeks and hands, which makes you wonder about the specific story of her, and Modigliani’s, life. Think about the way he elongates her neck, and the way that pulls your eye up and around the composition, and also about how this might relate to his earlier career as a sculptor. When I look at this, I’m also reminded of Manet, and of how artists are constantly in conversation across time and space. The real magic lies in the questions this painting provokes.