The Portrait of Maude Abrantes by Anna Akhmatova is a remarkable painting completed in 1911. The painting is an oil on canvas that measures 100 cm by 81 cm and resides in the Ukrainian National Art Gallery, Kiev. It is a representation of one of poet Anna Akhmatova’s old friends, Maude Abrantes, who was a student of art at the time. The portrait captures her beauty and dignity as she smiles genuinely at the viewer.
The Portrait de Max Jacob by Amedeo Modigliani is an oil painting on canvas depicting Max Jacob, who was a playwright and one of Modigliani’s closest friends in Paris. According to the Korean Museum Institute Korea (MIK) which owns this work, it was painted in 1916 when Modigliani was only 19 years old. This portrait painting features the intense yet gentle gaze of Max Jacob directed at the viewer. His expression appears to draw the viewer into his soulful eyes and beard which adds more depth to this beautiful portrait.
As an impressive culmination to this body of work, Jeanne Hebuterne with White Collar by Amedeo Modigliani stands out as special piece completed in 1919. This portrait is indicative of Modigiliani’s distinctive style, featuring muted colors as well as his signature elongated form of his subjects accompanied with sharp lines drawn between volumes and planes creating powerful expressionism. Jeanne Hebuterne With White Collar portrays an intimate moment between two people—Modigliani depicting himself looking up at Hebuterne—and highlights her charming yet serene personality through her facial expression and stance are presented through this work. With these three amazing paintings, showcased together they create a strong impression that highlights Modigiliani’s talent for portraiture and how it influenced modern art culture throughout the early twentieth century.
