“Nasturtiums with ‘The Dance'” is a captivating artwork by Henri Matisse, created in the year 1912 using the medium of oil on canvas. The piece is representative of the Expressionism and Fauvism art movements, and it measures 192 x 115.3 cm. Classified as an interior genre painting, this work can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork showcases a bold and vibrant composition, typical of Matisse’s style during his fauvist period. Dominated by intense blues and greens, it features a juxtaposition of a still-life element with a painted representation of a human figure in the background. The foreground is dominated by a boldly colored vase of nasturtiums placed centrally on a yellow surface that could be interpreted as a table. The flowers themselves are simplistically rendered with bright orange blooms and round green leaves. In the background, occupying the upper left side of the canvas, a white figure appears to be dancing; its simplistic, curvilinear form stands in stylized motion against a blue backdrop. This figure likely references a separate artwork by Matisse titled “The Dance.”
Matisse employs a flat perspective and a non-naturalistic color palette, which lends the scene an abstract quality. The thick outlines and the lack of concern for realistic space and form are characteristic of his work from this era. The overall effect is one of vibrant energy and dynamic tension between the stillness of the flowers and the implied movement of “The Dance.” This combination of elements within the same canvas allows viewers to appreciate Matisse’s exploration of color and shape as means to convey experience beyond the literal representation.
