Who painted Amedeo Modigliani?

Amedeo Modigliani was painted by Nina Hamnett in 1914.

Where can I see Amedeo Modigliani?

Amedeo Modigliani is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Amedeo Modigliani

Nina Hamnett , 1914

Amedeo Modigliani is a drawing by Nina Hamnett. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a modest drawing portraying a man seated in a chair, his torso bent forward and head bowed.

About this work

Overview

The work is a modest drawing portraying a man seated in a chair, his torso bent forward and head bowed. Rendered with sparse lines against a pale beige backdrop, the composition emphasizes posture over detail, offering a quiet, introspective scene that invites the viewer to contemplate the figure’s inner state.

Subject & Meaning

The figure appears to be Amedeo Modigliani himself, captured in a moment of self‑reflection. By obscuring the face and focusing on the hunched pose, the drawing suggests a withdrawn, contemplative mood, hinting at the artist’s personal introspection rather than a formal portrait.

Technique & Style

Executed with a restrained palette, the drawing relies on simple contour lines and subtle cross‑hatching to suggest volume and shadow. The limited use of color and the economy of detail highlight the artist’s ability to convey atmosphere through line work and tonal variation alone.

Context

Created as a study rather than a finished piece, the drawing reflects Modigliani’s interest in capturing fleeting gestures. Its minimalist approach aligns with his broader practice of distilling subjects to essential forms, a method he employed across both his drawings and paintings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nina Hamnett

Nina Hamnett loved crashing Paris salons in paint-splattered clothes, calling herself the “Queen of the Bohemians.” She once jumped into the Seine just to prove a bet about her courage, then shrugged it off with a cigarette and another…