The tall graceful figures of this oil painting seem to dance upon the familiar red soil of Africa. Traditional African art seeks to create a type of intermediary place between this world and the spirit world. It seeks to be visually pleasing and in this way please the Gods. Although the human figure is symbolic within traditional African arts it does not hold the same specific and extensive symbolism used within classic Western painting. This is a much more personal and expressive kind of symbolism.

While certainly reminiscent of Dance by Matisse (1909) – A time when African art was making an impression upon the avant-garde artists of the day such as Matisse and Picasso. This composition does not have the same flurried movement as the dancers in Matisse’s composition. This is primarily because they are not holding hands. In this African Dance the figures reach to the skies as they move gracefully in a circular motion. The artist gives us this impression by placing the dancers in a curved landscape: Adding gentle movement to the painting.

The earthy colors of this three piece oil painting give the composition a calm and tranquil feel overall. This composition would suit contemporary and modern environments well: Although in many ways all African Art is contemporary as much as it is traditional. In this way African Dance will almost certainly always be fashionable.