莫依斯‧奇斯林（Moïse Kisling, 1891-1953）為波蘭裔法國畫家，於1910年前往巴黎，落腳於蒙馬特區及蒙帕那斯區，在此結識諸多藝術家如莫迪里阿尼（Amadeo Modigliani, 1884-1920）、布拉克（Georges Braque, 1882-1963）和畢卡索（Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973）等人，對其日後的藝術表現有深遠的影響。

早期分別受到塞尚（Paul Cézanne, 1839-1906）、德朗（Andre Derain, 1880-1954）和立體畫派的影響，較重視圖像的結構，以沉重但簡化的形式與暗沉的色彩來描繪人物、風景及靜物畫。1915年後，其作品轉向表現主義風格。1920年代初期，奇斯林的作品風格達到成熟階段，結合了精確的繪圖技巧與鮮明的色彩；常以簡單、直接的方式來呈現主題，強調流暢圓潤的形式與生動的色彩，本幅作品【蒙帕那斯的琦琦】便出於奇斯林成熟時期的創作。

畫中的女子為艾莉思‧普林（Alice Prin, 1901-1953），又被稱為蒙帕那斯的琦琦或簡稱琦琦，是位歌星、演員、人體模特兒和畫家。琦琦成為蒙帕那斯社交活動的中心人物，並成為諸多藝術家們的人體模特兒，自1921年，和藝術家曼雷（Man Ray, 1890-1976）在一起並成為曼雷最喜愛的模特兒如著名的超現實主義圖像【安格爾的小提琴】（Le violon d’Ingres）。

黑色齊額的短髮與慵懶、挑逗的神情是琦琦特有的形象，奇斯林在本幅作品除勾勒出琦琦豐潤的體態，背部至臀部的雙弧線強調出女性渾圓的曲線；琦琦雙手交握置於被花布巾覆蓋的大腿上，左肩向上微聳和向左斜靠的臉龐－琦琦黑色齊額的短髮、一雙超乎比例的大眼睛及細緻略帶笑意的嘴唇－刻劃出琦琦嬌媚的特質。奇斯林畫筆下的琦琦似乎表現出畫中女主角在蒙帕那斯的琦琦或蒙帕那斯皇后的光鮮封號下另一不為人知的一面。本幅作品呈現奇斯林對女性特有的表現：白裡透紅的膚色處理手法與大而迷濛的眼睛。(蔡敏玲)

Moïse Kisling was a Polish-born French painter. In 1910 he moved to Montmartre in Paris and later to Montparnasse, where he became acquainted with numerous artists such as Amadeo Modigliani, Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, who deeply affected his artistic vision.

In his early days, under the influence of Paul Cézanne, Andre Derain and the Cubists, Kisling focused more on visual composition and tended to present human figures, landscapes, and still lifes in dark colors and heavy but simplified forms. It was not until 1915 that he turned to Expressionism. In the early 1920s, Kisling reached his maturity in style, combining precision in composition and the use of bright colors. He often presented subject matters in a simple and direct way, emphasizing flowing and curvy forms and exuberant colors. Kiki of Montparnasse is an example of Kisling’s mature stage.

The woman in the portrait is Alice Ernestine Prin, also known as Kiki of Montparnasse or simply Kiki. She was a singer, an actress, and an art model as well as a painter. She was a fixture in the Montparnasse social scene and posed nude for many artists. Starting in 1921, she stayed with American artist Man Ray (1890-1976) and became his favorite model in surrealist photographic images such as Le violon d’Ingres. Her bobbed black hair and a languorous tempting look are typical features of Kiki. Kisling depicts her plumpness by showing a body curvy from the neck to the waist and then to the hips. With hands crossed on top of her lap, her left shoulder raised slightly toward her rosy cheeks, and her pair of dreaming eyes and grinning lips under the fringe of her black bob hair, Kiki is portrayed with a feminine charm that is skillfully presented by Kisling. (Min Ling TSAI)