Art interpretation: A love story

Ben Newman of Levittown and Ally O'Rourke-Barrett of Yardley are dating. From the more than 3,000 paintings at the Barnes, Newman and O'Rourke-Barrett - he's a techie, she's a teacher - independently picked the same painting as their favorite: Amedeo Modigliani's Readheaded Girl in Evening Dress, from 1918. They stood before the enigmatic lady, discussing her appeal.

O'Rourke-Barrett: I just can't stop looking at it. I love the blue and the red against each other. The colors are my favorite part. I really like her face. It's so . . . intriguing.

Newman: She looks like she's ready to go out for the evening. . . . It looks like she has the whole evening ahead of her.

O'Rourke-Barrett: There's a story behind her. I don't know the story, but-.

Newman: You can tell that she is young, not near 30, like us. She has youth in her. I would put her at 22.

O'Rourke-Barrett: No. I see her older - 35. She looks a little bored to me. "Another party. I guess I'll throw this on and go out again."

Newman: There's two different sides to this! I've always seen her as really excited. You can see the way she's looking at you - it's kind of engaging. It's not that "I'm bored" look.

O'Rourke-Barrett: I like how thick the paint is. I feel like I can see exactly where the paintbrush was. That makes me feel close to the process of him doing it. And the colors!

Newman: The colors are dull, but still really bright. I don't want to say diminished . . .

O'Rourke-Barrett: Muted.

Newman: Yes, muted.