Lunia Czechowska 1918

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of Lunia Czechowska, likely in oil, with a touch that feels both urgent and tender. I see a painting built from layers; there’s this undercurrent of warm hues pushing through the cooler tones of her skin. The canvas isn't overworked but has a definite, physical presence. The texture isn't smooth; you can see the brushstrokes dancing across the surface, especially in the way the white of her blouse is rendered. Look at how Modigliani defines her nose with just a few strokes of paint, it’s almost like a whisper. It’s this kind of deliberate simplicity that draws me in. Modigliani reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, in that he seems focused on stripping away the unnecessary, getting to the core of expression through form and color. It's like he's inviting us to complete the picture, to feel the emotional weight of his subject. Art becomes not just about seeing, but about feeling and connecting.