Leopold Zborowski 1918

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of Leopold Zborowski, probably in oil on canvas, with a restricted range of colours. I like the pinky flesh tones, that give the sitter a warm glow. Look at the surface of the painting; the paint is applied thinly, scrubbed into the weave of the canvas with an almost dry brush. You can feel the grain coming through, adding a subtle texture. The background is built up from layers of translucent greys and browns, creating an atmospheric space around the figure. The eyes are almond-shaped, without pupils. These blank eyes draw attention to the overall structure of the head and to the graceful curve of the neck. Modigliani’s friend Constantin Brancusi was an influence, you can see it in the simplified forms. The longer you look, the more the painting reveals its secrets. It is always open to different interpretations, and that is why it is still so engaging.