Artists Illustrating Boys' Fashions: Amedeo Modigliani (Italy/France, 1884-1920)


Figure 1.--This is one of the Modigliani's portraits of a boy. I have no details on who the boy was.

Amedeo Modigliani is one of those artists tht even rank anateurs can instantly identify. He was born in Italy, but began to paint the portraits for which he is now famous in the 1900s after he moved to Paris. Modigliani has his own unique style, best expressed in wonderfully mannered portraits. His portraits were not an instant success and he endured great poverty, which contributed to his poor health. He died of tuberculosis and drink when he was only 35 years old. He left a wonderful collection of portraits, including a few boys.

Parents


Childhood


Education


Early Career

Modigliani moved tp Paris in 1906 as a young man. He was influenced by the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Georges Rouault, and Pablo Picasso. Picaso was in his "blue period" at the time. Another major was Paul Cezanne, especially the distortion of his figures.

Style

Amedeo Modigliani is one of those artists tht even rank anateurs can instantly identify. He was born in Italy, but began to paint the portraits for which he is now famous in the 1900s after he moved to Paris. Modigliani has his own unique style, best expressed in wonderfully mannered portraits. An interesting aspect of Modigliani's work in the extreme economy of line and composition painted with virtually blanl neutral backgrounds. Despite this economy, his portraits manage to provide a keen sence of personality, as in the portrait here (figure 1).

Body of Work

His portraits were not an instant success and he endured great poverty, which contributed to his poor health. Other artists noted his work, but is was not accepted by the public until after his death. He left a wonderful collection of portraits, including a few boys. Modiliani was not only a paintr, but also a sculptor. His friendship with Constantin Brancusi was responsible for his interest in sculpting. Many of his best works were dine after 1915 when he began devoting himself entirelt to his painting.

Death

Modigliani of tuberculosis and drink when he was only 35 years old.








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Created: November 7, 2003
Last updated: November 7, 2003