Modigliani, Young Woman of the People, LACMA

 Amedeo Modigliani was born in 1884 and died in 1920 at a young age. He was a painter who spent most of his career in the 20th century. Unlike his predecessors, such as Monet (born in 1840), Manet (1832), and Renoir (1841), Modigliani developed a unique painting style distinct from Impressionism. His style was influenced by African art.

 Modigliani's paintings are markedly different from realistic depictions of objects, yet they do not represent subjective figures shaped by light as seen in Impressionism. Instead, his works reflect the unsettled era of the early 20th century. The characters in his portraits often convey a sense of anxiety and unease that cannot be easily articulated.

 Modigliani lived a short life and left behind only 337 paintings, significantly fewer than Monet's 2,500, Manet's 430, and Renoir's 4,000. However, as a prominent painter of the 20th century, Modigliani's works are held in museums worldwide.

 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) boasts a notable collection of fine art housed in Western America, including a Modigliani painting. LACMA’s art council, composed of local art enthusiasts, contributed to housing a Modigliani painting in the museum. One of LACMA’s Modigliani paintings is a portrait of a working woman, which, like many of his other portraits, expresses anxiety and sadness. This painting resembles Modigliani works found in other renowned museums such as the Musée d’Orsay, the MET, MoMA, AIC, and NGA. However, each Modigliani painting in these museums evokes a distinct emotional response, highlighting the unique and captivating quality of his art.