Reclining Nude

In 2015 "Reclining Nude" Modigliani received the status of the second most expensive in the world of paintings exhibited at a public auction. In November 2015 the buyer is from China laid out for her $ 170 million at Christie's auction in new York. More 9 million at public auction evaluated only the "Algerian women" by Picasso. A bitter irony of fate! About a hundred years ago, Modigliani, suddenly found themselves in the money (that's happened to him often), handed five francs Picasso, the former at that time without a penny in his pocket. After a few years, already famous Picasso brought to the impoverished Modigliani hundred francs. If Picasso and during his life managed to learn the success and financial well-being, Modigliani lived and died in poverty. If only they knew how much it would cost their work a hundred years!

Most of the Nudes of Modigliani written in 1916-1917, the order of Leopold Zborowski. Collector, did much to ensure that the world learned about Amedeo Modigliani, felt at that place.

As is characteristic of works by Modigliani, the face of the model is stylized, almond-shaped eyes without pupils and half-closed, which reinforces the languid erotic vibe. Modigliani wanted to be a sculptor, but he had neither the means nor the health. The love sculpture is evident in his Nudes like he looks on the model in the first place with the eye of a sculptor, not a painter. Clearly defined muscles lovingly "cobbled together" Breasts make the body lying on a blue pillow women almost tangible. Well thought out the composition of the painting: the naked body forms a diagonal, and outstretched arms models create crossing this diagonal line.

If the body and face of a woman filled with a sense of bliss and relaxation, they emit a warm glow, the tone is written clearly, firmly, in an expressive manner. Created therefore, the contrast adds to the overall impression of this nu – one of the most successful in the artist.

Recall that in the twentieth century a new interpretation of Nudes, initially led to the scandal and caused outrage among the pious spectators. "Nudity" in high art never surprise, but – outrageous! these upstart artists managed to show not just naked, but naked women. But Modigliani women that is naked. It seems that they even separated from the viewer a certain feature, a veil, they do not just lend a helping hand. And they are more than sensual, their eroticism no doubt. It is known that they were written in a very frivolous atmosphere: women loved Modigliani, he acted hypnotically (legend has it that the artist in his youth, even seduced my own aunt Laura), and a model with great pleasure during the session repeatedly moved from the podium to his bed and back.

Modigliani – master line. Inimitable grace with which his nu described the contours of the female body, makes the pattern recognizable and gives them a special charm. Lying women with upturned hands he wrote repeatedly (1, 2, 3).

When I look at them I remember the famous "The Nude Maha" Goya. Recall that in 1813 the Inquisition confiscated two paintings by Goya with Maheu (in clothes and without), deeming them obscene. In the next century, manners were softened, and the exhibition (a single lifetime!) Amedeo Modigliani a couple of hours after opening, the police just told me to close. The arguments of the organizer of Leopold Zborowski and Bertha Weil, in whose gallery were exhibited paintings, about what Nude – revered since ancient times, the genre and the appeal to the classics, had no effect. What they opposed a police inspector? "Yes, but these naked hair!". So, no hair removal has made artwork an invalid and almost pornographic phenomenon.

Author: Alain Grosheva