Portrait of Moise Kisling 1915

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of Moise Kisling, using oil on canvas, at an unknown date. Like many artists of his time, Modigliani was deeply engaged with the materiality of painting. Look closely, and you'll see how he has applied the oil paint in thin, deliberate layers, almost like skin. This isn't just about representation; the very act of layering and blending contributes to the image’s expressive quality, and the sitter’s likeness. Modigliani was part of a community of artists working in Paris, many of whom were immigrants and outsiders. The social context of their work was as important as their individual vision. In a way, the simplicity of the materials – canvas, oil paint, brush – reflects the economic realities of the time. These were accessible materials, allowing artists to create powerful images within challenging circumstances. So, when we look at this painting, we're not just seeing a portrait of an individual, but also glimpsing the world of artistic labor, and the rich materiality of paint itself.