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Past

Modigliani Unmasked

Sep. 15, 2017 – Feb. 4, 2018

The Jewish Museum presents an exhibition of early drawings by Amedeo Modigliani—many of which are being shown for the first time in the United States. Acquired directly from the artist by Dr. Paul Alexandre, his close friend and first patron, these works illuminate Modigliani’s heritage as an Italian Sephardic Jew as pivotal to understanding his artistic output.

“Always speak out and keep forging ahead. The man who cannot find a new person within himself is not a man.”

—Amedeo Modigliani

Modigliani Unmasked considers the celebrated artist Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, 1884-1920) shortly after he arrived in Paris in 1906, when the city was still roiling with anti-Semitism after the long-running tumult of the Dreyfus Affair and the influx of foreign emigres. Modigliani’s Italian-Sephardic background helped forge a complex cultural identity that rested in part on the ability of Italian Jews historically to assimilate and embrace diversity. The exhibition puts a spotlight on Modigliani’s drawings, and shows that his art cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the ways the artist responded to the social realities that he confronted in the unprecedented artistic melting pot of Paris. The drawings from the Alexandre collection reveal the emerging artist himself, enmeshed in his own particular identity quandary, struggling to discover what portraiture might mean in a modern world of racial complexity.

The exhibition includes approximately 150 works, those from the Alexandre collection as well as a selection of Modigliani’s paintings, sculptures, and other drawings from collections around the world. Modigliani’s art will be complemented by work representative of the various multicultural influences—African, Greek, Egyptian, and Khmer—that inspired the young artist during this lesser-known early period.

Among the works featured are a mysterious, unfinished portrait of Dr. Alexandre, never seen before in the United States; impressions of the theater; life studies and female nudes, among them the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova; and drawings of caryatids and heads, which are telling of Modigliani’s sculptures, which he created over a five-year period from 1909 to 1914.

#ModiglianiUnmasked

Modigliani Unmasked is organized by Mason Klein, Senior Curator, The Jewish Museum.The exhibition was designed by Galia Solomonoff and Talene Montgomery of SAS/Solomonoff Architecture Studio.

 

In the Press

“stunning” — Hyperallergic

Modigliani Unmasked is made possible by The Jerome L. Greene Foundation.

Additional support is generously provided by Barbara and Ira A. Lipman, the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations, Capital One, an anonymous gift in memory of Curtis Hereld, and the Robert Lehman Foundation.

The exhibition is also supported by the Centennial Fund, the Horace W. Goldsmith Exhibitions Endowment Fund, and the Stanley, Marion, Paul and Edward Bergman Family Foundation.

The catalogue is made possible by endowment support from the Dorot Publication Fund.

The audioguide is made possible by:

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Black-and-white portrait of a man sitting on a wooden beam, wearing a loose shirt with a scarf tied at the collar, dark trousers, and boots, holding a cigarette and gazing directly at the camera.

Amedeo Modigliani, c. 1912, Image provided by PVDE / Bridgeman Images, New York

Exhibition highlights

  • Minimalist line drawing of a nude woman reclining with one arm bent behind her head and the other resting on her hip, rendered in black on a beige background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Seated Female Nude, possibly Anna Akhmatova, c. 1911. Black crayon on paper. 16⅞ x 10⅜ in. Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Stylized line drawing of a long-faced figure with elongated features, including narrow eyes, a vertical nose, and a tall neck, rendered in black on a beige background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Head, c. 1911. Black crayon on paper. 16⅞ x 10⅜ in. Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen. Gift of Blaise Alexandre, 2001

  • Stone sculpture of a stylized elongated head with almond-shaped eyes, a long nose, and simplified lips, mounted on a rectangular base.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Head of a Woman, 1910-11. Limestone, 25⅝ x 7½ x 9¾ in. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Chester Dale Collection

  • Charcoal drawing of a stylized nude female figure kneeling with arms raised, supporting a rectangular block on her shoulders.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Kneeling Caryatid, 1911-12. Black crayon on paper. 16⅞ x 10⅜ in. Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Line drawing of a nude male figure standing with arms raised, stylized features and textured background areas.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Hermaphrodite Caryatid, 1911-12. Black crayon on paper, 16⅞ x 10 in. Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Expressive black ink drawing of a seated man with a beard, head tilted downward and eyes closed, created with loose, gestural brushstrokes.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Alexandre, c. 1909. China ink on paper. 10⅝ x 8¼ in. Private collection, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Minimalist charcoal drawing of a standing nude figure with arms raised behind the head, stylized facial features, and geometric emphasis on the torso and pelvis.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Male Caryatid, 1911-12. Black crayon on paper, 13¼ x 10⅜ in. Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Pencil sketch of a woman in a wide-brimmed hat and detailed jacket, with her head tilted and eyes half-closed in a contemplative pose.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Study for “The Amazon,” 1909. Black crayon on paper. 12⅛ x 9⅛ in. Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Minimalist portrait drawing of a person with dark hair and red lips, wearing a loose-fitting garment, rendered in soft lines with a neutral background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of a Woman Taking Part in a Spiritualist Séance, c. 1906. Black crayon, China ink, and watercolor on paper, 22¼ x 14⅝ in. Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen. Gift of Blaise Alexandre, 2001

  • Sketch of a nude woman in profile with curly hair, holding a long draped fabric, beside a tall candle on a stand, drawn in expressive black lines.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Female Nude with a Lighted Candle and Chandeliers, inspired by Anna Akhmatova, c. 1911. Black crayon on paper. 16⅞ x 10⅜ in. (42.9 × 26.4 cm). Private collection, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London. Image provided by Richard Nathanson, photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, London

  • Expressionist painting of a topless woman with angular features, vivid red lips, and a large dark hat, set against a textured, muted gray background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Nude with a Hat, 1908. Oil on canvas. 31⅞ x 21¼ in. (81 × 54 cm). Reuben and Edith Hecht Museum, University of Haifa, Israel. Courtesy of the Hecht Museum, University of Haifa, Israel

  • Portrait painting of a woman with pale blue-toned skin, red lips, and a dark dress and hat, set against a moody, abstract background in greens, blues, and purples.

    Amedeo Modigliani, The Jewess, 1908. Oil on canvas. 21⅝ x 18⅛ in. (54.9 × 46 cm). Laure Denier Collection, Paul Alexandre Family, courtesy of Richard Nathanson, London

  • Abstract portrait of a seated man in a blue-toned suit, with indistinct facial features and a dark, moody background of swirling brushstrokes.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Unfinished Portrait of Paul Alexandre, 1913. Oil on canvas. 31½ x 25¾ in. Private collection on long-term loan to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen

  • Portrait painting of a seated man in a black suit holding a brown object, with elongated facial features and a neutral background in green, yellow, and gray tones.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of Roger Dutilleul, 1919. Oil on canvas. 39½ x 25½ in. (100.4 x 64.7 cm). Collection of Bruce and Robbi Toll

  • Portrait painting of a woman with elongated features and red hair in a bun, seated on a wooden chair, wearing a mustard yellow sweater and dark blue skirt against a muted interior background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Jeanne Hébuterne with Yellow Sweater, 1918-19. Oil on canvas. 39⅜ x 25½ in. (100 x 64.7 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, By gift 37.533. Image provided by Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation / Art Resource, New York

  • Portrait painting of a woman with a long neck and closed eyes, wearing a dark robe over a light blouse, seated against a textured, muted green and brown background.

    Amedeo Modigliani, Lunia Czechowska, 1919. Oil on canvas. 31½ x 20½ in. Museu de Arte de São Paulo. Photograph by João Musa

Installation Views

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

  • Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

    Installation view of the exhibition Modigliani Unmasked. September 15, 2017 – February 4, 2018. The Jewish Museum, NY. Photo by: Jason Mandella

Audio

The audio guide is made possible by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The Jewish Museum · Modigliani Unmasked