News from The Modigliani Initiative

January 23, 2024

Il novo Anno!

Girl in a Sailor’s Blouse, 1918
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Full of excitement and anticipation, Modigliani wrote “Il novo Anno!” (The New Year!) in a letter to his friend and dealer Léopold Zborowski on New Year’s Eve, 1918. Or, given that he spent the night celebrating with his friend Léopold Survage in Nice, perhaps more likely, on New Year’s Day, 1919. Over a century later, The Modigliani Initiative shares the same enthusiasm for the year ahead.

Exhibitions

Modigliani: Modern Gazes is currently in full swing at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart. The dynamic exhibition reconsiders Modigliani’s portraits of the modern woman and juxtaposes these with examples by his German contemporaries. On April 24, the show will travel to the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, Berlin.

For those who are unable to travel to Germany, the museum’s website offers an excellent audio tour. In addition, the catalogue, published in German and in English, is an important addition to Modigliani scholarship.

Reclining Nude (detail), 1917.
Private Collection

Brancusi, l’art ne fait que commencer. From March 27 through July 1, Centre Pompidou will host a retrospective of Constantin Brancusi (1876–1957), bringing together nearly two hundred sculptures, as well as photographs, drawings, films, and archives. At the heart of this ensemble will be the reconstituted studio of the artist.

Brancusi, La muse endormie, original marble version carved in 1909–10; this bronze version cast by 1913.
Private Collection

By 1909, Modigliani and Brancusi had developed a friendship while they worked in close proximity at the famed Cité Falguière artist studios in Montparnasse. Modigliani started this portrait of his friend, capturing his often elusive nature, but ultimately left it unfinished. Brancusi exerted a strong influence on Modigliani, echoed in both his sculptures and paintings.

Modigliani, Constantin Brancusi, c.1909. Abelló Collection

Modigliani Initiative News

The Modigliani Initiative has exciting news. We are thrilled to announce that two esteemed advisors have joined our team: Alessandro De Stefani and Didier Schulmann. These highly respected scholars will bring invaluable knowledge and advice to the organization. Their bios, available on our website, can be accessed here.

The Initiative also recently obtained official 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This is an important step forward in our ability to raise funds for realizing our future plans, including making our extensive research, which is compiled in our digital Database, available to the public online.

Upcoming Presentation (CAA)

Reminder: The Modigliani Initiative will be presenting “Modigliani’s Legacy: Beyond the Catalogue Raisonné” at the 112th Annual Conference of the College Art Association (CAA) in Chicago on February 16. We hope to see you there! For those who can not attend in person, the session will be recorded and can be accessed post-conference by registrants through April 17. Here is a link to register.

You are invited to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues. We are grateful for your support and extend our best wishes for the new year.

Leslie Koot | Julie Martin | Julia May Boddewyn

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