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Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris, France
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modigliani

Modigliani at the Orangerie: Line, Contour, and Elongation

Contour economy and elongation—how Modigliani creates presence with disciplined line.

12/12/2025
12 min read
Modigliani portrait line work

Modigliani’s line is calm and decisive.

✒️ Contour Logic

  • Long, unbroken arcs.
  • Minimal accents.
  • Rhythm over detail.

Economy of means; abundance of presence.

✏️ Line Exercises

  • Trace contour in one breath.
  • Reduce detail; keep rhythm.
  • Emphasize elongation for presence.

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About the Author

Museum Writer

Museum Writer

As a longtime museum‑goer and Paris wanderer, I made this guide to help you meet the Orangerie quietly — to notice the light, the stillness, and the human scale that make its paintings feel close.

Tags

Modigliani
Line
Contour

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