Amedeo MODIGLIANI
Italian 1884-1920
Portrait of the painter Manuel Humbert
1916
oil on canvas
100.2 x 65.5 cm
Felton Bequest 1948
1854-4

Principally a figure and portrait painter, Modigliani was also a sculptor who was profoundly affected by African art, particularly tribal masks. Through the use of strong line and definite shapes, and uncluttered by meaningless detail, his portraits have the monumental nature of sculpture and the solidity of three-dimensional objects.
His style has a consistency which has been criticised as lacking ingenuity and experimentation, but he uses a few basic forms to capture the essence of his subjects in a powerful and clear manner.
Manuel Humbert (1890–1975) was a Spanish painter of landscapes and was a friend of Modigliani. In this insightful portrait, Modigliani draws attention to Humbert's expressive eyes and sensual mouth, thus capturing the character and spirit of the sitter rather than mechanically recording an exact likeness.