Portrait of the Red-Headed Woman (Portrait de la femme rousse)

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Modigliani's portrait of an unidentified sitter, with her vivid hair and strapless dress, suggests how women's lives had changed by the early 20th century. Draping her shoulder over the chair, she addresses the viewer with an unapologetic gaze. Her revealing dress shows how bold new fashions could represent a form of freedom. Modigliani used a thick round brush to describe the model's flesh, and the textured surface seems to invite touch.

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