Elena Povolozky by Amedeo Modigliani

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by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on January 14, 2026
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000

Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian painter and sculptor, created this portrait of Elena Povolozky in 1917.

This portrait of Elena Povolozky from 1917, is a painting that combines elegant line, psychological depth and a palpable sense of presence. Now in The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., USA, the painting reveals the artist's mature portrait style at the height of his artistic powers.

Whilst this painting captures many of the attributes commonly found in much of his work from this period, this portrait of Elena Povolozky has some unique aspects to it too. Painted in Modigliani's typical medium of oil on canvas, the artwork depicts its subject, Hélène Joséphine Bernier Povolozky, simply against a sparse background.

While the painting features numerous Modigliani trademarks, including downturned eyes and small, pursed lips, it remains one of Modigliani's less stylised portraits. The painter was known for elongating features, in particular the neck and face - a stylisation he eschewed in creating this painting.

The posture of the sitter, looking directly at us, with a position close to the viewer makes this a more intense painting than some of his other portraits. The contrast between foreground and background is also maximised through Modigliani's choices of colour, with a strong contrast that really focuses the eye on her facial features.

Artist: Amedeo Modigliani
Title: Elena Povolozky
Date: 1917
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 64.8 x 48.9 cm
Location: The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
Sitter: Hélène Joséphine Bernier Povolozky

Description

Elena is depicted wearing a bulky jacket, a loose blouse and a bow; combined with her short hair, this attire gives the figure a distinctly bohemian flair. Bohemians were a recurring theme in Modigliani's work, which is fitting given the artist's infamous bohemian lifestyle.

The subject is painted with a bold outline that defines the figure, her features and surroundings. Contained within the outline, the painting's muted colours add to the sombre mood of the artwork. The subject's first name, 'Elena', is scrawled across the background, over her right shoulder.

Modigliani's expert handling of Cézanne-inspired modelling and flowing brushwork conveys a reflective and introspective presence. This portrait also allows us to see into the world of Modigliani himself, as Elena was exactly the sort of personality that he would share his spare time with, with many of them artists, writers or other creatives themselves.

Meaning and Interpretation

The meaning of this work is typical of this period of Modigliani's career - he uses reduced detail and no narrative around the portrait in order to create an atmosphere of introspection. That said, in Elena Povolozky there is a stronger connection between viewer and model, with her posture directly towards us. The eyes, nose and mouth are not proportioned exactly as they would have been in reality, as Amedeo makes use of influence from non-European art.

Elena Povolozky Eyes in Detail

Elena Povolozky Close-up of Face

Elena Povolozky Detail of Clothing Chemise Tie

Elena Povolozky Word Written across Background

Elena Povolozky Detail of Lines and Scratching on Surface

Who was Elena Povolozky?

A painter herself, Hélène Joséphine Bernier Povolozky (Elena) was the wife of Jacques Povolozky, a Paris gallery owner and bookseller. Other than Elena and Picasso, Modigliani painted portraits of many members of the Paris art scene during his life, including Beatrice Hastings, Leopold Zborowski, Paul Guillaume and Oscar Miestchaninoff.

She was born in 1882, so would have been in her mid-thirties at the time of this portrait. Born in Reims, she moved to Paris to pursue her artistic interests, where she became part of the vibrant expatriate community that defined the avant-garde scene. This community brought her into contact with Modigliani.

In 1911 she married Jacques Povolozky, a Russian émigré, bookstore and gallery owner in Saint-Germain, and together they supported artists and hosted exhibitions. Modigliani and Povolozky were close friends, and the portrait may have been painted as a gesture of gratitude, as she is believed to have regularly helped out her fellow artists in times of need within their various communities.

Artistic Influences

The mood, colour and use of outline may have been influenced by the works of Paul Cézanne, whom Modigliani had a great affinity for. Besides signing the painting, Modigliani also inscribed it with the name of the subject, Elena. It was rare for him to write anything other than his own signature, and it is probable that this painting was intended as a statement of gratitude, perhaps for some help she gave Amedeo previously.

Provenance and Exhibitions

Originally painted in Paris in 1917, this Portrait of Elena Povolozky appeared in early sales including a Paris auction at Hôtel Drouot in 1926, followed by exhibitions in New York and other venues. Over subsequent decades, as his reputation soared, it was included in a number of retrospectives of Modigliani's work, confirming both its authenticity and historical importance.

Today the painting is part of the permanent collection at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., acquired in 1949 and considered one of the museum's highlights of European modernism.

Connection to the Montparnasse Circle

Elena Povolozky was part of the vibrant artistic milieu in Paris, and within the city there were several specific areas in which creatives would congregate. Many of the individuals within what became known as the Montparnasse Circle would appear as portraits within Modigliani's oeuvre, and, in turn, he would model for them too.

Povolozky would come across other famous names as part of her connection to Modigliani, including Picasso and Soutine. They were more than just social connections, but actually essential for encouraging and supporting others because of their avant-garde style which would constantly face obstacles within the mainstream art world.

Modigliani painted portraits almost exclusively. While these paintings now command prices in the millions, they were not popular during Modigliani's lifetime as the portrait was not in style in Paris at that time.

Despite his failure to sell paintings and engage a gallery, Modigliani was well liked in the Paris art community, and he is considered to be part of the School of Paris, a group of artists who painted in Paris at this time. His life and work brought him into contact with many renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, whom Modigliani painted multiple times.

Elena Povolozky Amedeo Modigliani
Elena Povolozky, Amedeo Modigliani