16822 Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920)

The painting presents a portrait study, executed in a style characterized by simplified forms and a restricted palette. Here we see a woman depicted from the chest upwards, her gaze directed towards the viewer with a directness that is both arresting and somewhat unsettling. The face is rendered with large, angular features – prominent nose, wide-set eyes, and a thin mouth – all contributing to an overall impression of stylized severity rather than naturalistic representation.
The artist employed a limited range of earth tones: ochre, brown, and reddish hues dominate the composition. These colors are applied in broad strokes, creating a textured surface that obscures any attempt at subtle shading or modeling. The background is a uniform dark brown, which serves to isolate the figure and intensify her presence.
The woman’s hair, depicted with short, choppy curls, frames her face and adds a touch of dynamism to an otherwise static composition. A necklace bearing a cross is prominently displayed against her neckline; its inclusion introduces a layer of symbolic complexity that warrants further consideration. The cross could signify religious affiliation or faith, but given the paintings overall aesthetic – its deliberate distortion of form and rejection of traditional beauty standards – it might also be interpreted as an ironic commentary on societal conventions or institutional power structures.
The elongated neck contributes to the figure’s sense of formality and perhaps even fragility. The lack of detail in the clothing, rendered simply as a dark red garment, further emphasizes the focus on the womans face and her expression.
Subtly, there is an air of melancholy conveyed through the subject’s gaze and the muted color scheme. It suggests introspection or a quiet resignation rather than overt emotion. The painting avoids sentimentality; instead, it offers a study in psychological portraiture, where the artist seems more interested in capturing an essence or a mood than in creating a likeness.