Study of a Head 1913

This “Study of a Head” was painted by Modigliani at some point, in some place, but when? It’s so pared down, almost brutally simple in its marks; a process laid bare. The red is like blood, terracotta, the colour of earth, and it’s set against a background of smoky blues and creams. Modigliani used thin paint, almost translucent in places, to create the solid planes of the face and neck, so you feel like you can see the canvas weave through the image. Look closely at the nose, that long, elegant triangle, and the way it connects seamlessly with the brow. The whole face is so simplified, so iconic, it’s like he’s distilled the essence of a human being into a few essential lines. This reminds me of Picasso’s portraits, or maybe even some ancient Cycladic sculptures. You could say, with art, that we are constantly redrawing history and making something new.