Artwork
The Italian Woman
The Italian Woman is an oil painting by Amedeo Modigliani. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows a seated Italian woman with dark hair, dressed in somber attire against an ochre backdrop, rendered in oil on canvas.
The work shows a seated Italian woman with dark hair, dressed in somber attire against an ochre backdrop, rendered in oil on canvas. The portrait, dated 1918, exemplifies Modigliani’s focus on the sitter’s presence rather than narrative symbolism, presenting a straightforward representation of a young woman as both subject and object. Her dark clothing and the muted background emphasize a contemplative mood, while the composition reflects the artist’s interest in the intimate study of female figures within his modernist portraiture.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, as indicated by its medium and material descriptions. It is a vertical-format portrait depicting an Italian woman with black hair, seated in dark clothing against an ochre background. The painting’s handling follows Modigliani’s approach to portraiture, emphasizing simplified forms and a restrained palette.
History & Provenance
Amedeo Modigliani executed this oil on canvas portrait, known as The Italian Woman or La Brune, in 1918, though some accounts suggest a creation period extending into 1919. The vertical composition depicts a seated woman with dark hair against an ochre background. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as a gift from Chester Dale in 1956.
Prior to this donation, the painting was owned by Dale, who also lent it to the exhibition Modigliani. Modern Gazes.
The Italian Woman has been in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York since it was donated by Chester Dale in 1956. The painting is held in that institution's collection and is recorded in its records under the dimensions of 102.6 by 67 cm. It was previously owned by Chester Dale prior to the gift.
The work's documented exhibition history includes the show "Modigliani. Modern Gazes."
Legacy
The Italian Woman (1918) is an oil on canvas portrait that entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art following Chester Dale’s 1956 donation.
Its inclusion in the exhibition “Modigliani. Modern Gazes” helped cement the painting’s reputation within Modigliani scholarship.
The work is frequently cited in French-language references, such as the Wikipedia entry that describes it as “L'Italienne” and notes its vertical format and black‑bow accessory. These exposures have contributed to its lasting visibility in studies of early‑20th‑century portraiture.
Overview
Amedeo Modigliani's 1918 oil painting, The Italian Woman, presents a portrait characteristic of his distinctive style. The work features a seated figure rendered with the artist's signature elongation of form, a hallmark of his contributions to early 20th-century modernism. Executed in oil, this piece exemplifies Modigliani's approach to portraiture during his time with the École de Paris.
Context
An Italian artist who spent much of his career in France, Modigliani was a notable figure within the École de Paris. His artistic development was shaped by a deep appreciation for Italian artistic traditions, including both classical antiquity and the Renaissance. These early influences were reinterpreted through a modern lens, contributing to his unique visual language of elongated forms and stylized features, evident in works like The Italian Woman.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (US: ; Italian: ; 12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the École de Paris who worked mainly in France.
