Modigliani, Amedeo (1884-1920)
Jeune fille rousse en robe de soir (Redheaded Girl in Evening Dress)
1918
Oil on canvas, 116 × 73 cm
Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
Modigliani‘s portrait of an unidentified sitter, with her vivid hair and strapless dress, suggests how women’s lives had changed by the early 20th century. Draping her shoulder over the chair, she addresses the viewer with an unapologetic gaze. Her revealing dress shows how bold new fashions could represent a form of freedom. Modigliani used a thick round brush to describe the model’s flesh, and the textured surface seems to invite touch. (BF)