Madame Amédée (Woman with Cigarette)

Amedeo Modigliani’s Madame Amédée (Woman with Cigarette), painted in 1918, is a significant oil on canvas work that perfectly encapsulates the artist’s mature aesthetic. The painting adheres to Modigliani’s distinctive approach to portraiture, which synthesized influences from classical Italian Mannerism with elements derived from African sculpture and the Post-Impressionist tradition. The figure is characterized by the hallmark elongation of the neck and facial features, giving the subject a serene, almost mask-like quality.

The sitter, identified as Madame Amédée, occupies the entire vertical plane of the canvas. She is portrayed holding a lit cigarette, a detail that grounds the otherwise abstracted figure in a specific, contemporary moment. Modigliani employs a limited palette of warm ochres, deep blacks, and muted flesh tones, utilizing smoothly applied paint and controlled brushstrokes to emphasize the clarity of the lines defining the figure. The flat, undifferentiated background ensures that the viewer’s attention is focused solely on the psychological weight and reserved demeanor of the woman.

This piece belongs chronologically to the period 1901 to 1925, representing the artist's output during his crucial years working in Paris, although his heritage remained strongly rooted in Italian culture. The deliberate simplification of form elevates the individual portrait into an iconic representation of modern identity. The work demonstrates Modigliani's commitment to expressive portraiture just prior to his untimely death. As a celebrated example of early 20th-century art, Madame Amédée (Woman with Cigarette) is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its art historical importance, high-quality prints of this painting are often made available through public domain initiatives worldwide.