Dancing Figures

Hand Painted

Gallery Wrapped

Size: 20" x 40"

Custom Sizes Available

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While Dancing Figures is far from a reproduction of The Dance produced by Henri Matisse in 1910 there is something in the style that is reminiscent of it: That is because both oil paintings reflect the aesthetics of African art – It having a notable influence upon the avant-garde of the early nineteenth century; such as Matisse and Picasso.

Unlike the vivid red color of the Matisse dancers these Dancing Figures are depicted in shades of terracotta and black. The background is subtle too, using the same terracotta and burnt umber tones. The human figure is highly stylized within African art, reaching beyond naturalism and toward the spiritual: These figures unmistakably hold this very same quality.

Matisse loved to browse the museums and there is little doubt he would have encountered African art before he left for North Africa in the spring of 1906. And in fact Matisse is known to have purchased an authentic Vili figure in a small curiosity shop in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the time Matisse and his contemporaries did not fully understand the spiritual and cultural influences upon African art: And yet they were intrigued and inspired by what they saw – Dancing Figures has the same intriguing qualities and ability to inspire.