Interesting Twist
When on holiday I read an interesting article in the New Yorker on Modigliani the artist sculptor and painter. Though I had known of the long necked paintings, I had never heard him referenced until the 2008 Maid of Honor movie.The relationship to Modigliani and to Tom is quite uncanny and I had never noticed the similarity until my four hour plane ride.
Even now, there is a similarity in the character of Tom and Modigliani.
As one character struggles for a name sake, the other struggles to be a name and to achieve financial success.Modigliani though born into an abundant lifestyle,lost to bankruptcy when he was a child.
Interesting with similar backgrounds while one searches for accomplishment in a name, the other has the name yet seeks financial accomplishments.
Interestingly similar features with even more interesting giftedness.
Tom's idea of the coffee collar proceeds his future inventions from his days in and out of the Ivy league classroom and into the New York skyline.
In the end though, he is able to get past his short comings and eventually get the girl.
Though not a movie critic,I enjoy connecting the film and the artistic vision behind the scenes and as they are shown on the silver screen. The apparent connection of Tom is parallelled with the true to life story of Modigliani and his life work.
A tale of a man who is driven to make a name for himself, as fate would have it time ran short and though accomplished in style and fashion an artist who died without recognition.Modigliani was no stranger to the encapsulation of the female gender.Never at a loss for the opposite sex, or for a n inspiration for his paintings, Modigliani was also an accomplished dresser and trend setter.
We see this also in Tom, a self made man who is desperate to make his mark,enjoy the company of a beautiful woman and all the while being a self made man.Of course,having a long necked object of desire in the leading lady does not hinder any plot and it is in the end that love does seem to conquer all.
The infamous oil painting "Nude on a Blue Cushion (1917)
The leading lady 'Hannah" in the 2008 movie with a relevance to the long necked women of Modigliani's paintings.
In the world of Modigliani not only were women particularly vulnerable but to say he was loved by women was almost an understatement.As one affair was over, another began for most of Modigliani's life.There was also the unrelenting fascination within the artist community, as Picasso would say, '' There is only one man in Paris who knows how to dress and that is Modigliani".
Though plagued with tuberculosis which was his fate's end, somewhat known for his self indulgent behavior,Modigliani was in the end more famous after death than while living.
This all to me is fascinating out of all the early 19th century painter why Modigliani was compared to the leading male character in the 2008 film.Of course another day but I am also intrigued how in the movie Mona Lisa Smile while in the classroom at Wellesley, Soutine the artist known for sides of beef was showcased by Katherine Watson.Soutine was directly influenced,mentored and taught by Modigliani.A French taught pupil of Modigliani's, influenced student of the art of Modigliani as well.
In the end of Modigliani's career he was told by his art dealer to have said," Don't worry - I am leaving you Soutine".
In the end of days, the influence one leaves can either inspire and captivate one or have the extreme opposite effect and destroy one to the point of self ruination. A captivating thought - which always leads me to the life of well balanced and steady as she goes.
Interesting side note~
In 1984 the remaining daughter seemed to have drunk herself to death, a hundred years after her fathers birth. A painter herself,and art history student.A executor of her fathers estate,today's Modigliani's are quite rare and remain almost priceless.Yet, Modigliani works of art are of the most copied and fake with over 1,000 faux Modigliani's on the market today.
3-2011 The New Yorker
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