Description
Henri Matisse – The Dance (first version)
| Year of creation: | 1909 |
| Original size: | 390.1 cm x 259.7 cm |
| Painting style: | Fauvism |
| Original technique: | Oil on canvas |
| Located: | Museum of Modern Art New York |
The Dance (first version) – Henri Matisse
The Dance (first version) is a 1909 painting by Henri Matisse, held by the Museum of Modern Art in New York: five pale pink nude dancers in a ring on a green hill under a blue sky. We paint our hand-painted study of The Dance (first version) to order on canvas, in oil or acrylic, in 8 sizes from 70 × 50 cm to 390 × 260 cm or in a custom size. Before The Dance (first version) is dispatched, we send you a photo of the finished painting.
What does The Dance (first version) show?
In The Dance (first version) five nude figures painted in light pink with thin outlines hold hands and dance in a large ring; some leap, one stretches towards her partner’s hand, and the background is just two areas, a deep blue sky and a green hill. With three colours Matisse caught the very rhythm of dance and joy, which is why The Dance (first version) feels light, joyful and full of movement.
How is our hand-painted study of The Dance (first version) made?
Our painters paint the study of The Dance (first version) by hand, with brushstrokes of different thickness, separately for every order. We paint in oil or acrylic, depending on the subject and the size, so the surface of The Dance (first version) has a real paint texture that a print does not have. When The Dance (first version) is finished, we photograph it and send you the photo for approval.
Which size of The Dance (first version) suits your room?
For the wall above a sofa or a sideboard choose The Dance (first version) in 120 × 80 cm, and for a bedroom, hallway or work corner 70 × 50 cm. The Dance (first version) is available in 70 × 50 cm, 90 × 60 cm, 120 × 80 cm, 150 × 100 cm, 200 × 130 cm, 250 × 170 cm, 300 × 200 cm and 390 × 260 cm. The 390 × 260 cm size is almost the size of the original: the original of The Dance (first version) measures 390.1 × 259.7 cm, so our painting is 1 mm shorter on one side and 3 mm longer on the other. A simple rule for The Dance (first version): it should be about two thirds as wide as the furniture below it, with its centre about 150 cm from the floor.
How does The Dance (first version) arrive, and when?
We ship The Dance (first version) rolled in a sturdy tube, stretched on 2.5 cm deep wooden stretcher bars, or framed – you choose when you order. Stretching and framing of The Dance (first version) are done in our workshop in Slovenia. When a size of The Dance (first version) is in stock, it reaches you within 6 working days; a study of The Dance (first version) painted to order reaches you in 15 to 45 days.
Frequently asked questions about The Dance (first version)
Is The Dance (first version) a print?
No. Every brushstroke of The Dance (first version) is painted by hand on canvas, so the paint visibly stands up from the surface.
Can I order The Dance (first version) in a size that is not listed?
Yes. We also paint The Dance (first version) in a custom size; enter the width and height you want when you order The Dance (first version).
How does The Dance (first version) differ from the well-known Dance?
The first version is lighter, with pale pink, sketchy dancers; in the second, held by the Hermitage, Matisse painted the bodies in strong red.
Is The Dance (first version) a good gift?
The Dance (first version) is a gift for a dancer, a dance school or a Matisse fan. If you are unsure which size of The Dance (first version) to choose, give a gift voucher.
