Lion de profile 

Editor: This is *Lion de profile*, a pencil drawing, possibly undated, by Amedeo Modigliani. I find it quite intriguing because of its somewhat elongated and unfinished nature. What do you see in this piece from a formalist point of view? Curator: The linearity is striking. Notice how Modigliani utilizes contour lines to define the subject. These lines aren't merely representational; they possess an inherent expressive quality. Also observe the limited use of shading. Editor: I see that. The shading seems concentrated around the head and legs. Is this a device to create emphasis or depth? Curator: Precisely. The strategic deployment of shading and darker tones serves to anchor those parts. However, note the tension arising from the stark contrast between these areas and the more open, skeletal definition of the lion's body. Consider, too, the compositional arrangement: a horizontal orientation contributing to the lion’s languid pose. The reduction to simple lines encourages the eye to engage with the very essence of form itself. Editor: So, rather than striving for realistic depiction, the artist explores the fundamental elements of shape and line? Curator: Precisely. One could argue that, through a careful reduction of the representational, Modigliani invites us to examine the very syntax of visual expression itself. Editor: That makes me look at it in a new way. Thanks. Curator: Indeed. The inherent elegance arising from reduction to essentials, even in a seeming sketch, proves insightful regarding the formal devices available to the artist.