Boy in Short Pants c. 1918

Amedeo Modigliani made this painting of a ‘Boy in Short Pants’ with oil on canvas. I’m thinking about Modigliani painting in his studio, maybe in Paris, trying to capture the essence of this kid sitting before him. The ochre palette and elongated form reminds me of his other portraits, but what I’m drawn to is how he uses the paint to suggest a mood. It is thinly applied so we can see the weave of the canvas. Look at the boy’s hands, so gently clasped together. It’s like Modigliani is trying to get at something beyond just a likeness, something about the boy’s character. You know, painting is like a conversation between artists across time. Modigliani, inspired by artists before him, now inspires new generations. Painting is about feeling your way through the dark, embracing ambiguity, and seeing what emerges.