Lolotte (Head of a Woman in a Hat) 1916

This portrait was painted by Amedeo Modigliani, using oil on canvas. In some ways, these were pretty conventional materials at the time he was working. However, the way Modigliani applied the paint, in a really simplified, somewhat crude manner, lends a distinctive air to his work. You can see the visible brushstrokes, the way he renders the sitter's features with just a few strokes, and how it all adds to the sense of the work. We are very aware of the painting's surface and how it’s handled. Consider the cultural significance of the fashion depicted. Her hat, her hair, and her adornments denote a certain level of social status, and it prompts us to think about class and labor. The material qualities of the painting remind us that all art has material qualities. So, by attending to Modigliani's way of working, and considering the cultural context, we get closer to a full appreciation of this work.