Landscape, Southern France 1919

Modigliani painted this landscape of Southern France on a canvas measuring 60 by 45 centimeters, and just look at the way he's laid down those colours! It’s as if he was sculpting with pigment, each brushstroke building up a rich, textured surface. I really love the physicality of the medium here. The paint isn’t shy; it’s thick and bold, especially in the foreground where that vibrant red leaps out, contrasting with the deep greens and muted tones of the hills and buildings in the background. Notice how the strokes aren't blended but are instead layered, creating a real sense of depth and movement. This really gives the impression that the work was made with immediacy. It reminds me a little of Cezanne, another painter obsessed with the landscape of Southern France, but with a more lyrical feel. Both artists seem to understand that painting is a conversation between the artist, the medium, and the subject, and this is something I try to bring to my own work, too.