Chaim Soutine by Amedeo Modigliani

The Montparnasse artistic scene represented an ideal refuge for poets and painters in search of the absolute. It is within this bohemian community that Modigliani Amedeo immortalized his contemporaries with a rare empathy. The superb composition entitled “Chaim Soutine” depicts a young man immersed in his private thoughts. This canvas marvelously illustrates the melancholy atmosphere characteristic of the portraits of the period.

The young man represented in bust is seated next to a varnished wooden table visible in the lower right corner. On this warm-colored piece of furniture rests a small glass containing a dark liquid. The character wears a black jacket open over a dark vest and a white shirt with a slightly disheveled collar. His elongated face is topped by neat brown hair parted on the side. His ochre-colored hands are calmly joined at the base of the composition. The asymmetrical eyes without pupils reinforce the pensive expression of his face with a narrow mouth. The background is formed by a textured partition in cool shades of night blue and slate grey.

The pictorial technique reveals a remarkable work on the contrasts between the warmth of the wood and the coldness of the background. The use of oil paint allows for smooth transitions and gives a living texture to the dark clothes. The precision of the drawing highlights the genius of his stylization.