In the early nineteenth century, every self-respecting collector and art connoisseur went to Paris in the spring in search of interesting paintings. They could see different awesome artworks in Paris, specifically at the Salon of Independents. Sergei Shchukin, a Russian merchant, was one of the seekers. When he saw Matisse’s canvas, he fell in love with his painting once and for all.
Matisse’s parents desired that he become a lawyer, but he resisted his father’s wishes. Henri became one of the forefathers of a new art movement known as Fauvism (from the French fauve “wild”).
Shchukin met the savage artist right away and purchased several of his works. A few years later, a Russian collector approached Matisse with the idea of decorating his house on the Znamenka with a music and dance panel. Matisse couldn’t say no to his generous patron, and this motive was personal to him.
Matisse couldn’t say no to his generous patron, and this motive was personal to him. “A certain gentleman from Moscow, who, they say, has a large collection, bought everything that was possible from Matisse, and he talks incessantly about color,” wrote Matisse’s pupil Hans Boorman.
Shchukin received a sketch of the future panel from Henri Matisse. The patron was overjoyed and immediately responded to the artist, saying, “Sir, I find so much nobility in your “Dance” that I decided to disregard our bourgeois opinion and place a nude plot on my stairs.”
The work was completed in 1910, but before sending it to Russia, Matisse exhibited it at the Autumn Salon. And the scandal erupted once more. This time, the Russian merchant got it as well: Shchukin was labeled as a garbage collector. “It took a lot of determination to fulfill this order, and a lot of courage to buy it back,” Henri Matisse later recalled.
- The plot with the dancing people was so successful that Henri Matisse used it more than once in his work (“Parisian Dance”, “Dance with nasturtiums”).
- “I just want a tired person to taste rest and peace when looking at my paintings,” Henri Matisse said of his works.
- Henri Matisse Dance AnalysisIn the early nineteenth century, every self-respecting collector and art connoisseur went to Paris in the spring in search of interesting paintings.
- Sergei Shchukin, a Russian merchant, was one of the seekers.
A few years later, a Russian collector approached Matisse with the idea of decorating his house on the Znamenka with a music and dance panel.
- “The work was completed in 1910, but before sending it to Russia, Matisse exhibited it at the Autumn Salon.
The plot with the dancing people was so successful that Henri Matisse used it more than once in his work (“Parisian Dance”, “Dance with nasturtiums”).”I just want a tired person to taste rest and peace when looking at my paintings,” Henri Matisse said of his works.P.S. If you find that you need to buy this painting, I recommend that you go to the website Lavelart.com. You can get a henri matisse dance print from them for a very low price. They also guarantee free shipping and a refund if you are dissatisfied with the product.