Modernist Modigliani at the Kimbell Art Museum
By Joi Harris
Skiff Staff

A square mile is quite minuscule when speaking in terms of the world’s total landmass. Well, take that square mile and place it in Paris, one of the most historic and culturally rich cities in the world.

Now place some of the most influential artists, painters and sculptors of the modernist movement, including Amedeo Modigliani, within that square mile and imagine the abundance of extraordinary work produced in such a stimulating environment.

Beginning Sunday, the Kimbell Art Museum will enable the Fort Worth Community to see first-hand the first major exhibition featuring the works of Modigliani and his contemporaries to tour the United States in more than 40 years.

Private collectors and museums from three different continents have placed their works on loan to enlighten the public with 82 works created by early 20th century modernist artists of Montparnasse, the square mile.

The exhibit, Modigliani and the Artists of Montparnasse, will feature paintings, sculptures and works on paper from artists including Constantin Brancusi, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Chaim Soutine, who lived and worked in this momentous era in history.

These figures are responsible for launching the diverse manifestations of the modern movement in European Art and Modigliani’s distinctive artistic vision is uniquely infused with his relationships to this group.

Timothy Potts, director of the Kimbell Art Museum, said “the presence of works by (Modigliani’s) friends and neighbors in Montparnasse give a sense of the artistic community within which he flourished.”

Senior museum curator, Malcolm Warner, said this cohabitation of artists of such importance has never been witnessed, thus making this time special.

“Montparnasse was one of the most artistic environments to ever occur in history,” Warner said. “(A collection) of all these incredible geniuses inventing the artistry of the new century has never been paralleled before or since.”

Modigliani, the first quintessential artist of Montparnasse, moved from Italy to Paris in 1906 and became the central figure of the Parisian avant-garde.

He is best known for his eloquently stylized depiction of the human figure, mainly highlighted by his studies of women with elongated necks and soulful eyes and his modest female nudes.

“Because Modigliani was completely human in his interests, he was not playing with conventions at all,” Warner said. “He was doing his best to capture the humanity of his subject.”

The exhibit will remain at the Kimbell Art Museum until May 25. For more information on times and admission prices, call (817) 332-8451.

Joi Harris
j.s.harris@tcu.edu