Cariatide agenouillée et assise sur les talons 

This drawing by Modigliani presents a kneeling figure with arms raised; she is rendered with an economy of line. The posture immediately evokes the caryatid, figures from classical antiquity, often female, that serve as architectural supports. The motif of the raised arms stretches back through centuries, a gesture laden with complex emotions. Think of the orant figures in early Christian art, their arms lifted in prayer, or the ecstatic poses of maenads in Dionysian revelry. The gesture embodies supplication, reverence, and a reaching beyond earthly bounds. Yet, it is also seen in expressions of anguish, as the figure is surrendering, giving up. Here, Modigliani’s figure synthesizes these histories, capturing the weight of tradition and the tremor of individual experience. These symbols are non-linear, cyclical, and resurface in different historical contexts, evolving and taking on new meanings. The echoes of history vibrate within this image, engaging us on a subconscious level.