the dance

Observing Henri Matisse “Dance” brings you into a trans were you cannot stop looking away. You eyes are drawn to the center of the picture were there are five naked women dancing in an elliptical figure holding each others hands. Each woman is positioned differently to complete each side of the elliptical form. Their bright orange bodies have a different faded spot on each of them showing that they are not all the same. All their faces are looking inward at the ground like they are worshiping something. The woman is positioned looking like they are uncomfortable in what they are doing. You are drawn to the woman in the back with her head down to her neck and her right leg in passé. At looking at this first it makes you wonder what is going on. As your eye become comfortable with the painting you notice the other women around and their body’s position and notice that they are all doing something different. He makes the bodies real by the defining the line of the form of the body.
Matisse used simple colors throughout his painting. By using only three colors it make it a stronger piece. The navy blue sky is a lovely background and makes it feel eerie like something about to happen. The dark green grass as the foreground makes it look realistic as they dance on the hill. Also there are faded spot on like hill like the grass has been walked on too many times. By having the people stand out the most in the bright orange color defines it more. The color takes captivate your eye and he wanted this other wise he would of used more colors. This painting has is a memorizing painting that captives your eye.