Boy in Short Pants c. 1918

Amedeo Modigliani made this painting of a young boy with oil on canvas at an unknown date. I love the way Modigliani applies the paint in such a way that it feels so effortless, as if he didn't have to think about it too much. But, of course, he did, and the beauty of painting is that process of thinking, of questioning, and of not knowing. Look at the way the boy's rust-colored jacket melts into the background, and how this makes him stand out. I'm drawn to the child’s face, which is almost mask-like, but the color in his cheeks and lips brings him to life, even as the dark outlines of his eyes, which almost look closed, hint at some darker, hidden emotion. Modigliani’s work reminds me of Suzanne Valadon, who painted many portraits with similar muted tones and bold compositions. Ultimately, painting is an ongoing conversation, a dance between the artist and the canvas, where meaning is never fixed, but always evolving.