The Easel

13th December 2022

He may have been an antisemite, but he knew great Jewish art when he saw it

Diane Cole | Forward | 31st October 2022

When Modigliani died in 1920 the contents of his studio were lost.  A team of historians and conservators is working to fill gaps in our knowledge of his working methods. Some examples. His stylized oval faces only appeared after a mid-career detour into sculpture. His colours were complex – “a black is never just a black; he also introduces blues and reds”. Far from his reputed wild bohemian ways, Modigliani the artist was “stylistically restrained and highly skilled”. Images are here.

6th December 2022

Ukraine’s Modernist art has defied censorship and missiles

Staff | The Economist | 1st December 2022

The battle over Ukrainian identity is long. European modernism put down early roots in the Ukraine, where radical art was fused with local folk and decorative arts. Much of that output was confiscated by the Soviets and the artists declared public enemies. Recently, even as missiles flew overhead, many of those same works were secretly trucked from Kyiv to Madrid for exhibition and safekeeping. Says a curator “If we do not preserve Ukrainian culture, we will not preserve Ukraine.” Images are here.

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