Madame Zborowska with clasped hands 1917

Modigliani painted this portrait of Madame Zborowska, probably in oil on canvas, at some point during his short life. The earth tones throughout feel immediate, like a quick study, but then you catch the light on that white shirt and the curve of her neck and you realise the composition is carefully considered. What I love about Modigliani's work is the balance between the raw and the refined. The way he builds up the paint is like he's carving away at stone, each layer revealing more of the form. The texture isn't hidden, but celebrated, the brushstrokes left visible, almost like a fingerprint, and it makes the surface come alive. There’s a haunting quality that reminds me of El Greco's elongated figures. Both artists, though separated by centuries, share this knack for capturing a sense of inner life, and an ability to convey multiple emotions at once. It's about not just seeing, but feeling, and that's what makes art so powerful, isn't it?