The fascinating exhibit on the friendship between Zadkine and Modigliani

Nestled in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, right below the Luxembourg Gardens, the Zadkine Museum is dedicating, until March 30, 2025, a new and unprecedented exhibit on the friendship that united the sculptor Zadkine and the painter Modigliani. Through a journey showcasing the best of their avant-garde works, this exhibit offers the perfect excuse to discover this delightfully romantic spot with the charm of a countryside home in the middle of Paris.

Until now, the unique relationship that connected Ossip Zadkine and Amedeo Modigliani had remained little explored. Through nearly 90 works, the exhibit retraces the intertwined paths of these two major figures of the avant-garde movement in the vibrant Montparnasse of the 1910s and 1920s. On display: paintings, drawings, sculptures, period documents, and photographs, immersing visitors in the artistic and deeply friendly bond between the two men. From sculptures described by Zadkine himself as primitive to the beautiful paintings by Modigliani – whose style was inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec – and ultra-vintage photographic montages by Ange Leccia, the exhibit takes us close to the artists and their collaboration.

The exhibit unfolds across five themed rooms in the Zadkine Museum, highlighting the shared social circles of the two artists in the picturesque neighborhood of Montparnasse, famous for its cafés and artist studios. The exhibit also reveals the role Zadkine played in building the posthumous myth of Modigliani, who died at just 35 years old. This retrospective revives the ties of a fruitful artistic friendship tragically interrupted by World War I. While Zadkine continued creating works until the late 1960s, Modigliani entered history thanks to his sculptor friend, who never ceased to promote the work of his departed companion.

One highlight of this exhibit is the opportunity to visit Zadkine’s studio, specially arranged for the retrospective, where visitors can admire the finest drawings and sculptures by the two artists. To reach it, you simply cross the garden and push open the annex door – a dreamy little stroll!

Zadkine-Modigliani, an interrupted friendship. Zadkine Museum, 100 bis rue d'Assas, Paris 6th arrondissement, until March 30, 2025. Entry from €9.

Also discover the shopping experience like in the Grands Magasins and the new exhibit at the MAD on the Christofle silversmith house.