After highlighting the strong artistic ties between Chana Orloff and Ossip Zadkine, this time the institution focuses on another relationship of the sculptor, the one that united him with the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani. Through nearly 90 works displayed in the former home-studio of the sculptor, we explore the intertwined destinies of these two artists with a shared palette.
A friendship as strong as it is ephemeral
In 1906, Modigliani leaves his native Italy to settle in Paris. Four years later, Zadkine, four years younger, joins him in the capital. As they weave their shared connections within the vibrant and fertile context of Montparnasse in the 1910s, the two artists finally meet in 1913, each carrying at that moment deeply rooted dreams of sculpture.
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For 2 years, the two artists are in close proximity, both in bars and restaurants as well as in studios. Together, they share a love for archaic sculptures, a return to essentials that feels more aligned with non-Western arts, often breaking away from the works being offered at that time. A strong relationship, both artistically and as friends, begins to crumble in 1915, as World War I rages on, and it will come to an end in 1920, with the death of Modigliani, who was only 35 years old.
Yet, even when they no longer speak to each other, the two artists continue to have an influence on one another through their creations. Thus, as you navigate through the galleries and the artworks, it often becomes tricky to attribute the works to either artist. Statues, drawings, and paintings follow one another, showcasing their shared aspirations and inspirations.
g>communities, both in the topics and in the techniques.
Amedeo Modigliani, Woman with a Velvet Ribbon, around 1915 © GrandPalaisRmn (musée de l'Orangerie) / Hervé Lewandowski
Intersecting Lives and Works
As you stroll through the galleries, the museum revisits the favored subjects of both artists, presenting dozens of works in dialogue, highlighting shared artistic inspirations. The first of these, which flows from room to room across the ages, is the woman. Whether before, during, or after their time together, each man ascribes inestimable value to the female figure. This is expressed in curves and geometric shapes.
In the works of both Zadkine and Modigliani, you’ll find, throughout their creations, elongated figures, delicate lines, and evocative forms.
strong>, sometimes suggesting more than revealing the face or body. Both seek to open the world of art and, more specifically, sculpture towards a new ideal and order. And while Modigliani chose to dedicate himself to painting before his death, Zadkine would never leave the path opened by his friend. This is evidenced by works that, 10 or 15 years later, continue to resonate with the Italian's creations.
Ossip Zadkine, Tête de femme, 1924 © Adagp, Paris 2024 / Photo © Eric Emo/musée Zadkine/Paris Musées
Both artists confront us with a very special relationship to raw material. Using blocks of granite and whole tree trunks, each sourced their materials as best they could, to let their imagination speak while avoiding too much alteration of the natural material. This connection to creation reflects a bond with a form of primitive art, while also building a bridge between sculpture and architecture, which both artists will attempt to cross many times.
Thus, the institution offers a complete and fair exhibition, looking back on the lives of two major artists from Paris in the 1910s and 1920s. From...The Montparno group comes together despite their distance, passing through the myth surrounding Modigliani's death. The Zadkine Museum invites us to discover intertwined journeys fueled by a shared love for art and creation.
Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of Ossip Zadkine, around 1918 / Photo © Paris museums / Zadkine Museum
Modigliani/Zadkine. An Interrupted Friendship
Zadkine Museum
100 bis, rue d'Assas – 6th
From November 14, 2024, to March 30, 2025
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