Les deux filles 1918

Amedeo Modigliani’s “Les deux filles” is a painting rendered with soft, earthy tones, that feels both intimate and elusive. The artist's hand is visible, as the paint is thinly applied with visible brushstrokes. I can just imagine Modigliani, in his studio, layering these colours, building up the figures from the background. Look at the face of the girl on the left, the subtle blush on her cheeks, it is an intimate moment, tender and melancholic. The girls' almond-shaped eyes, a signature of Modigliani's style, seem to hold a story within them, inviting us to contemplate their lives and the artist’s own. The older girl's black top looks a bit like other works by Cezanne, which feels like Modigliani tipping his hat to the old masters. Artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other, aren't they? For me, this painting is a reminder that art is a process of ongoing exploration and discovery.