An ecstatic orgy!

From ARTSPER MAGAZINE

Among Henri Matisse’s most famous works, “The Dance” is an ode to life, physical debauchery, and an emblem of modern art. It was commissioned, along with “Music,” by the influential Russian collector Sergei Shchukin in 1909 to decorate his residence. Characterized by its simplicity and energy, this “ecstatic orgy” has left a deep mark on 20th-century art. “The Dance” was painted at the height of the Fauvist aesthetic and embodies the emancipation from traditional norms of representation in Western art. Today, “The Dance” hangs, along with “Music,” in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The deep colors and honest style of Fauvism

Matisse’s aesthetic choices for this painting caused a scandal at the art salons of 1910; the bold nude and raw colors gave the work a primitive character that, in the eyes of some viewers, seemed somewhat barbaric. Matisse used only three colors to depict this joy: blue, green, and red. In keeping with traditional Fauvist associations, these vivid colors create a strong contrast. Charles Caffin, an art critic who had seen Matisse work on the canvas, said that “the pigments were pure from the tubes.”

The economy of style and the ambiguous figures – neither their facial expressions nor their gender are clearly defined. The red silhouettes are emphasized with thick contours against the blue and green background. Matisse explores the relationship between colors and lines to create harmony, not using colors in isolation. There is no architectural element or landscape to give a sense of perspective or distance. The large canvas (260 cm x 391 cm) has a flat background and focuses only on the dancing figures.

Primitivism and Fauvism

The Fauves shared the primitivists’ interest in indigenous communities and were inspired by primitivism to create art that returned to the essence of things and community. The crude figures of “The Dance” recall primitivist styles and suggest the reunion of man with nature. Their nudity rejects Western civilization and turns the work into a symbol of the unity between Man, Heaven, and Earth. Matisse aimed for a synthesis between primitivism and folklore, using bright colors as expressions of instinct and nature. The individuals are completely lost in the dance, freed from the constraints of everyday life.

The five figures are holding hands in a circle, but on the left the hands of two of them are only touching, without being held tightly. This “break” is close to the viewer and can be seen as an invitation to join in the dance – the circle seeks to unite even those outside it.

A fascination for dance

The theme of dance occupied an important place in Matisse's life and work. He had previously presented this motif in "Joy of Life" (1906), where dancers have a similar position. According to Charles Caffin, his fascination with dance began at the "Moulin de la Galette", where he observed folk dances, different from formal forms such as ballet. The circular dance of "The Dance" was inspired by a dancer Matisse saw in Collioure, a variation of the "Sardana", a traditional Catalan farandole.

Despite the simple style, the painting conveys a sense of movement and space: the endless sky and the rounded shapes of the earth seem to blend with the energy of the rhythmic bodies. The viewer can imagine the sounds of drums and the unbridled rhythm. “Dance” is closely related to “Music”: the constant movement of the dancers contrasts with the static of the singers, who seem like spectators of the dance.

Breaking the rules

With “The Dance,” Matisse abandoned traditional French craftsmanship for an aesthetic closer to primitivism and African art. He eschewed detail and finesse, devoting himself to pure feeling and spontaneous energy. Colors and lines have their own freedom, rare for the time. His goal was not to provoke, but to unite people and nature. As Matisse himself put it: “What I dream of is a balanced, pure and calm art, which avoids worries and gives peace of mind, like a comfortable chair in which you can sit to relax.”

Although at the time of its creation many did not understand its courage, today "The Dance" is regarded as one of the most powerful symbols of joy, life, and nature.

Image Credits: 

https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/dance-ii-1910