The Dance 2 by Henri Matisse

This monumental work represents one of the most memorable explorations of color and rhythm. Conceived by the leader of fauvism Henri Matisse, this work named “The Dance 2” reinterprets the human round with a redoubled expressive intensity. The artist favors here a maximum chromatic tension to translate the primitive strength, physical trance, and sacred communion of the dance.

Five naked figures painted in a flamboyant brick-red launch into a frenetic circular dance. Their muscular and tense bodies are underlined by vigorous black contours that accentuate the rhythm of the movement. They move on the rounded top of a dark and saturated green hill, which supports their passionate momentum. In the background, a deep and mysterious Prussian-blue sky creates a striking contrast with the warm figures. The round seems to come alive in a perpetual and powerful movement, where each bodily tension participates in the general balance. The violent contrast of these three fundamental colors gives the whole a universal dimension.

The artist’s masterful technique lies in the use of pure color as the main vehicle of emotion. Through his assured touch and simplified monumental shapes, he confers an impressive sculptural presence on the group. This mastery of plastic tension asserts itself as a major aesthetic revolution.