Seeing Modigliani's sculptures,
there is evidence of him being influenced by art from Africa and Cambodia which
he probably saw in the Musée de l'Homme. His interest in African masks shows in
the treatment of the sitters' faces. They appear ancient, almost Egyptian,
created flat and masklike, with distinctive almond eyes, pursed mouths, twisted
noses, and elongated necks.
Although a series of Modigliani's
sculptures were exhibited in the Salon d'Automne of 1912, for whatever reason he
abruptly abandoned sculpting and focused solely on his painting.
Among his works is the portrait of his
hard-drinking friend Chaim Soutine plus portraits of many of his other
Montparnasse contemporaries such as Moise Kisling, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera,
Juan Gris, Max Jacob, Blaise Cendrars, and Jean Cocteau.
At the outset of World War
I, he tried to enlist in the army but was refused because of his
poor health. Perhaps knowing that for health reasons his life
would be short, he carried a death wish, drinking continuously and consuming large quantities of
drugs. Amedeo Modigliani was an extremely handsome man to whom females were greatly
attracted.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
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