Dimensions: support: 645 x 460 mm frame: 829 x 643 x 70 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Modigliani’s "Madame Zborowska," undated, housed at the Tate. I’m struck by the elongation of her face and neck. What are your thoughts on the geometric stylization within this portrait? Curator: Observe how Modigliani reduces form to its essential components. The painting is less about mimetic representation and more about exploring abstract relationships of line and plane. The smooth, simplified surfaces create a sense of calm. Editor: I see that now. It's as though he's pushing the boundaries of portraiture into something more… symbolic? Curator: Precisely. He renders not what is seen, but rather what is felt about the subject. Consider the interplay between the muted palette and the sharp, angular lines. Editor: It’s almost like a mask, a study of form rather than a true likeness. I hadn't appreciated the nuances of his abstraction before. Curator: Indeed, and now you have a richer understanding of Modigliani’s innovative approach to portraiture.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/modigliani-madame-zborowska-t03569
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An extreme elongation of the female form is seen in Modigliani`s portrait of Hanka Zborowska,a friend and the wife of his dealer. The style embodies his own vision of beauty, but it derives from his interest in a wide variety of arts then considered to be `primitive`, including African carvings and Cambodian sculptures, as well as the thirteenth-century paintings and sculpture of his native Italy. Gallery label, September 2004
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