Portrait of Paul Alexandre

The Portrait of Paul Alexandre is a sensitive rendering executed by Amedeo Modigliani Italian, 1884–1920, during the formative decade between 1904 and 1914. This compelling work is classified as a print, utilizing black fabricated chalk applied skillfully to cream wove paper. The chosen medium allows Modigliani to employ both sharp, defining contours and subtle tonal gradations achieved through smudging, capturing the sitter's introspective expression with immediate effect.

Paul Alexandre was one of the foremost patrons and personal friends of Modigliani during his crucial early years navigating the artistic landscape of Paris. As a supportive figure, his presence in the artist’s life yielded numerous studies and finished portraits, reflecting a deep, shared history. This particular composition exemplifies the emerging characteristics of Modigliani's distinctive style, foreshadowing the simplification of form and the elongation of features that would become his stylistic hallmark. Though much of his career took place in France, the artist’s foundational education in Italy significantly informed his handling of the human form, giving his drawn figures a sculptural, weighty presence even in a two-dimensional medium.

Created during a transitional period for the artist, this piece represents a significant early step in the evolution of Modernist portraiture. Surviving works on paper, such as this expressive chalk rendering, provide invaluable insight into the superior draughtsmanship of Modigliani. As a key example of 20th-century Italian art, it is permanently housed within the celebrated collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The availability of high-resolution digital documentation ensures that prints derived from this major drawing are accessible within the public domain for ongoing scholarly research and appreciation.