Adrienne (Woman with Bangs) — Daily Hue for September 2, 2026
Amedeo Modigliani · 1917 · National Gallery of Art
Hidden color: Deep Bright Vermilion (#4b1404)
About this puzzle
Amedeo Modigliani became one of the most recognizable artists of early 20th-century Paris, known for portraits that stretched and simplified the human figure into elegant, almost dreamlike forms. Born in Livorno, Italy, in 1884, he moved to Paris in 1906 and became part of the artistic community surrounding Montmartre and Montparnasse. Although he encountered the major movements developing around him, Modigliani developed a style that was distinctly his own, drawing on European painting as well as African and Oceanic sculpture. His portraits often feature elongated necks, narrow faces, almond-shaped eyes, and simplified features, giving his subjects a recognizable appearance while still preserving something of their individual personalities. He died in Paris in 1920 at only 35 years old, leaving behind a relatively small body of work that became enormously influential.
Adrienne (Woman with Bangs) was painted in 1917, during one of the most productive periods of Modigliani's career. The woman sits in a wooden chair with one hand resting beside her face, looking toward the viewer from beneath her dark bangs. Her long, sloping nose, almond-shaped eyes, and gently curved eyebrows show the stylization that had become central to Modigliani's portraiture. At the same time, the painting does not completely erase her individuality. Her expression, posture, clothing, and direct gaze give the portrait a sense of a particular person rather than simply another example of his signature style. The muted red wall behind her creates a simple setting, allowing her face and hair to remain the focus of the composition. The painting is oil on linen and measures about 21¾ by 15 inches. Its early history is not completely certain, but it may have belonged to the Parisian art dealer Paul Guillaume before being acquired by Etienne Bignou in 1927. American collector Chester Dale purchased it in 1928, and it entered the National Gallery of Art's collection through his bequest in 1963.