“When I know your soul, I will paint your eyes” Modigliani at Tate Modern

Modigliani - Tate Modern, London

The quote Modigliani was most famously known for; “When I know your soul, I will paint your eyes” has always been one that stuck with me. This may be because I most strongly do believe, as they say, that the only way you truly see into someone's soul is through the eyes - the window to their soul.

Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. You may know him for his innovative modern style of elongated faces and figures he produced in both his paintings and sculptures until his early death at the young age of 35.

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to visit Modigliani's current exhibition at Tate Modern and witness first-hand his alluring portraits consciously absent of their windows.

As I stood staring at his emotionally intense portraits, I realised I had never actually appreciated his work in my own terms before that very moment. I understood his artistic style and concept, his modernity for its time - not being received well during his lifetime and finding acceptance much later - but just then I realised I never actually understood the emotional bond he was trying to make with the onlooker, in my view; he was seeking someone who would simply understand.

In that very moment, I probably felt the same way Modigliani felt about the sacredness of connecting to one's soul and that my observer can never entirely know me until they look deep into my eyes and find my soul. Maybe, the only one I hoped would, never really knew to look close enough to follow the path to my soul. Maybe this is why that very person has now made me feel exactly like the sitters in Modigliani's portraits.

Modigliani was from a bourgeoise family, however, he strongly believed that his most honest artistic drive actually came from suffering. I guess my most artistic connection also did.