Modigliani and the Artists of Montparnasse

"Famous for his elongated forms, graceful portraits, and lush nudes, Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) is among the most loved of the extraordinary group of artists who lived in Montparnasse in the early twentieth century. Accompanying the first major Modigliani exhibition - culled from important collections in North America and abroad - in the United States in more than forty years, this book places Modigliani and his work in the context of his friends and contemporaries, all living and working in what Marcel Duchamp described as "the first truly international group of artists we ever had." The art is striking for its diversity: Cubist, Expressionist, and Primitivist, with Modigliani's art embodying all of these elements, in all mediums: painting, sculpture, and works on paper. The other Montparnasse artists featured include Alexander Archipenko, Constantin Brancusi, Giorgio de Chirico, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Fernand Leger, Pablo Picasso, and Diego Rivera." "Moving beyond the artist's tragically brief life to provide a fuller and richer understanding of his art, this book is arranged thematically: the first essay explores Modigliani's relation with Montparnasse; the second address