Artwork
Adrienne (Woman with Bangs)
Adrienne (Woman with Bangs) is an oil painting by Amedeo Modigliani. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1917, this oil painting on linen presents a seated woman with dark hair cut in a blunt fringe.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1917, this oil painting on linen presents a seated woman with dark hair cut in a blunt fringe. She wears a dark garment, her right hand gently touching her cheek, and her lips are painted a vivid red. The background consists of deep, muted tones of red, brown and black, framing the figure in a subdued atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays an unnamed woman, her calm demeanor and slight gaze suggesting quiet contemplation. The raised hand and soft expression convey a sense of introspection, while the bold coloration of her lips draws attention to her femininity within the otherwise restrained composition.
Technique & Style
Executed with confident, flowing lines, the artist emphasizes elongated forms and simplified facial features, hallmarks of his personal visual language. The palette combines saturated reds with darker earth tones, and the handling of oil on linen yields smooth, luminous surfaces that enhance the portrait’s stylized elegance.
History & Provenance
Painted by an Italian-born artist who settled in Paris in the early 20th century, the piece emerged during his most productive period among the École de Paris circle. Though the creator’s reputation grew posthumously, this particular portrait reflects his mature approach to portraiture before his untimely death in 1920.
Context
The painting belongs to a body of work where the artist explored the human figure through a synthesis of classical influences and modernist abstraction. It aligns with his contemporaries’ experiments in simplifying form while retaining emotional resonance, situating the work within the vibrant artistic exchanges of pre‑World War I Paris.
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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.
