Head of a Woman c. 1919

Editor: Here we have Amedeo Modigliani's "Head of a Woman," a delicate pencil drawing. It feels incredibly fragile and unfinished. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious? Curator: I see a challenge to the male gaze prevalent in early 20th-century art. Modigliani often depicted women, but this sketch, so devoid of detail, resists easy objectification. Does the lack of distinct features perhaps imply a universal representation of womanhood, beyond the individual? Editor: That's interesting. So you're saying its incompleteness is almost a strength, in a way? Curator: Precisely. It opens a dialogue about how women were seen—or not seen—in that era. It's a commentary, even in its nascent form. Editor: I never thought of it that way. It really makes you question the power dynamics at play. Curator: Exactly, and that's what makes art history so relevant even today. Editor: I’ll definitely look at Modigliani differently now.