Portrait of Oscar Miestchanioff 1916

Amedeo Modigliani painted this portrait of Oscar Miestchanioff with oil on canvas. The way Modigliani approaches the making of this painting seems almost like a dance. Note how he uses thin layers of paint, almost translucent in places, to build up the form. It feels like he's searching for the figure, defining it with colour and line in one fell swoop. Look at the blue of the shirt, it's not just one colour but many shades blended, as if the shirt is breathing. The eyes are closed, mere slits, making Miestchanioff seem lost in thought, or maybe he’s just tired. The red scarf adds a punch, a little spark of energy. There is a kinship to some of Matisse’s portraits, where the subject is rendered through simplified forms and vibrant colour. But Modigliani brings a particular sensitivity, a softness that’s all his own. This painting isn't about showing off, but about feeling and seeing.