Artfully Said–Here’s Looking at You

Amedeo Modigliani, Girl in a Sailor’s Blouse, Oil on canvas–1918. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.

This portrait is typical of the stylized work of Amedeo Modigliani. After looking carefully at this painting, you could probably identify other paintings by Modigliani when you come across them in books and museums. With that in mind, here are a couple a writing tasks to try.

Write about the features of the figure and the painting. Observe carefully. Isolate and then describe characteristics that present themselves to you and that might help you (and your reader) to determine what to look for in other portraits painted by Modigliani.

OR

Look deeply into a mirror. Describe yourself as Modigliani might have painted you. How would he have had to adjust your features in order to capture you in his unique style?