Jeune Femme 

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of a young woman, sometime in the early 20th century, with oils on canvas. Modigliani was working in Paris at a time of massive upheaval in the art world, the old rules laid down by institutions like the French Academy were collapsing. He and other artists in his circle embraced a modernist sensibility, moving away from realism to more abstract forms of representation. Look at the elongated neck of this figure, or the almond shape of her eyes, these are hallmarks of Modigliani’s distinctive style. The composition is fairly simple, yet the use of color and form create a compelling image. Modigliani was heavily influenced by non-western art, particularly African masks and sculptures. He sought to tap into what he saw as the primal energy of these traditions. The Italian Jewish artist was inspired by modernism and primitivism. To truly understand this work, we have to research the many different movements and cultural forces that shaped it. Art history is about more than just aesthetics, it’s about understanding the social and institutional contexts in which art is made and consumed.