Portrait of Konrad Bercovici

The Portrait of Konrad Bercovici by Amedeo Modigliani is a highly finished drawing created in 1919, the final year of the Italian artist’s life. The subject, Konrad Bercovici, was a respected Romanian-American writer and folklorist and an acquaintance within Modigliani’s bohemian circle in post-World War I Paris. This drawing captures the essential characteristics of the artist’s mature style, reflecting a unique synthesis of classical structure and modern formal expression rooted in the École de Paris environment.

Executed in graphite pencil on paper, the work showcases Modigliani's masterful draughtsmanship and his ability to convey profound presence using minimal means. Unlike his oil paintings, this piece relies entirely on the economy of line and subtle, judicious shading to define form. Modigliani employs the pencil to establish the hallmark stylistic features recognized universally in his portraits: the severe elongation of the head and neck, the symmetrical placement of facial features, and the characteristic almond-shaped eyes that often lack specific pupils, lending the sitter an internalized, contemplative air.

The sharp, precise contour lines define the structure of Bercovici's face and jacket, while careful hatching suggests volume and depth, focusing the viewer’s attention squarely on the psychological disposition of the subject rather than detailed realism. This drawing is highly representative of Modigliani's final output, demonstrating an increasing reliance on linear abstraction while retaining human immediacy. Created shortly before his death in 1920, the piece provides crucial insight into his continuing dedication to portraiture. The Portrait of Konrad Bercovici is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it serves as a key example of modernist drawing. The widespread availability of high-quality prints ensures that Modigliani's 1919 interpretation of Bercovici remains highly accessible to researchers and the public domain.