Man with a Pipe (The Notary of Nice) 1918

Amedeo Modigliani painted 'Man with a Pipe (The Notary of Nice)' using oil on canvas. Modigliani, an Italian Jewish émigré in Paris, lived in a precarious financial state, relying on the support of friends and patrons. This portrait encapsulates Modigliani’s search for identity and belonging. The elongated features are an overt reference to African masks. Modigliani's interest in African art was a reflection of the broader European avant-garde movement which sought inspiration from non-Western cultures. Yet it also raises questions about cultural appropriation. There is something about the man’s melancholic gaze that reflects Modigliani’s own feelings of displacement, further evoking a sense of longing and introspection. The notary's somber attire and the pipe seem to signify a desire for respectability. Yet, he could also be seen as a symbol of the bohemian intellectualism that defined much of Modigliani’s social circle. The tension between these identities mirrors Modigliani’s own struggle to find his place in the world.