Alice 1916 - 1919

Amedeo Modigliani painted "Alice" with oils; the date of its making is unknown. I like how the face is this mix of ochre and pink – a warm, earthy palette. Look at the confident brushstrokes creating the dress, thick and textured. There's a tangible sense of Modigliani's hand moving across the canvas, each stroke deliberate yet free, like a dance. Now, check out the hands – clasped so neatly in her lap. The way they’re rendered is almost sculptural, a simplification of form that still captures their essence. The background is simple, mostly grey, with the barest hint of a dark pillar to the right. It feels like Modigliani is in dialogue with artists like Cezanne who found ways of creating form with color, rather than line. Like all great paintings, "Alice" is more about the questions it poses than the answers it gives. It’s an invitation to look, to feel, and to ponder the endless possibilities of paint.