“Portrait of Maude Abrantes” is a distinguished artwork created by Amedeo Modigliani in 1907, during his time in Paris, France. Executed in oil on canvas, this portrait is a quintessential piece of the Expressionism movement, epitomizing the emotional intensity and subjective representation characteristic of the genre. Currently, this piece is housed at the Hecht Museum within the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel.
The artwork portrays a profound and somewhat somber depiction of a woman, believed to be Maude Abrantes. The subject’s elongated face and neck, along with the exaggerated and accentuated facial features, are typical of Modigliani’s stylistic approach. Dark, intense eyes stare out from hollow sockets, contributing to the emotive and somewhat melancholic tone of the piece. The background is an abstract fusion of muted and dark colors, primarily blues and browns, which serves to highlight the starkness and depth of the figure in the foreground. The brushstrokes are textured and vigorous, adding to the expressive and almost raw quality of the work. The overall composition and treatment reflect Modigliani’s unique ability to convey deep psychological and emotional states through minimalist yet powerful visual language.
