Thursday

@ MMFA:

Amadeo Modigliani (1864-1920): "Young man with a white collar / Jeune homme au col blanc" (1918), oil on canvas.

The use of grey, like two columns on either side of the figure, coupled with the flat grey, almond-shaped eyes. The hair line is made of white scratches, dividing the head into two, showing how flat & thin the paint is...strangely, the most paint was applied at the cheekbones, fleshly, peachy & patchy highlights floating under the eyes.  The collar is shaped like an old school nun's habit, or white wings in flight (or the roof of  Le Courbusier's Ronchamp chapel), a slight touch of blue paint in the upper right hand side to keep it all balanced...slight dove-grey shadows on the edges of his collar...all so simple, all so splendid...starting to feel Modigliani a little more...

                                                                                                    (A. Modigliani in 1918)

Anselm Kiefer, "Das SonnenSchiff ", (1996-2009), Brambles, lead boat, aluminum-painted sunflowers, acrylic, oil, emulsion on canvas, steel & glass.



Leon Golub, "Mercenaires II", (1979), Acrylic on canvas.