Portrait of Leon Bakst 

Here is a portrait of Leon Bakst, made with oil on canvas by Amedeo Modigliani. There's something almost slapdash about this painting. Modigliani seems to have been working quickly, freely, not worrying too much about capturing a perfect likeness. You see that especially in the face. It's composed of subtle pinks and creams, laid on with a broad brush. This gives the face a soft, almost fleshy quality. This approach extends to the rest of the painting, particularly in the jacket. It has a decorative pattern, but the details are minimal, just a few quick strokes of the brush suggesting the overall design. It speaks to a time when artists were less interested in precise representation and more focused on capturing a feeling, an impression. In a way, the apparent casualness is what gives the painting its charm and immediacy. It reminds us that art is often about process, about the act of making, not just the finished product.