Artworks and Analysis
created during the
early modern era in 1899, and the medium is oil on canvas. The size
of the work
is 125.5 centimeters in height and 190.5 centimeters in width.
The subject of
the painting is couples dance, and the primary focus is on a couple
that can be
seen dancing in the center of the painting. A man in the center is wearing
a
dark suit and woman is wearing a long red dress: this wardrobe indicates
passion,
and the burning fire of youth. Her dress is wrapped around the base of
the male
companion’s legs. There are hints of this red present on the man’s
suit jacket and pants,
indicating that they are melting into each other, and
that the passion is mutual.
The figure to the left seems to be very loosely
painted, with palms open, indicating the
flexibility and openness of youth. The
assorted brushstrokes around the figure also
seem to create an aura or glow
around the young woman. The white color scheme also
indicates the innocence of
youth, especially noted by the faint flower pattern on the figure’s white
dress. In addition, the character’s outstretched hand is pointing to a growing
flower, indicating that the figure is not concerned with the potential death
and peril around her.
The figure on the right side of the painting, on the other
hand, signifies the extreme opposites. This figure is lonely, rigid, hopeless
and confined. The black dress indicates the understanding of an unavoidable
death in the future, near or otherwise. The figure’s meek hands clasped closely
against her body indicate that she will not leave easily. The outline of the
figure’s body is done in smooth, precise brushstrokes indicating that this
figure is set on one belief, rather than being adaptable, as with the figure on
the left.
The moonlight in the background exemplifies a phallic figure. Taking
in account the moon itself, this can also be interpreted as a “Christ-like”
figure,
with arms outstretched.
In the background of the composition, between
the focus and the right hand side, is another dancing couple. The male of this
couple appears far less suave and passionate than the couple in the center of
the painting. His posture is not concerned with his dancing partner, and his
focus seems to be elsewhere. His large gazing eyes and bloody red lips could be
indicating a sense of madness, which in his case could be onset by his aging.
The man seems to be gazing at the lady in black, indicating not only an
understanding of death, but also a desire for it.
In the background, there
exist another two couples, whose actions and expressions are difficult to
examine. There is; however, another fair-haired woman in a patterned dress,
similar to the young lady on the front left side of the painting. This lady
seems to be gazing at the dancing couple in focus, almost if in a hopeful,
excited way.
Overall, there seems to be a very important relationship between
all of the parties in the painting. First, it appears that there is a circle of
gazes being exchanged. Similarly, with the people in the background, although
they are distant and difficult to examine, they still play a crucial role in
the flow of the painting. Their positioning and fluidity causes the eyes to
gradually move throughout the work: from figure to figure. This is why the
primary symbolism is a cycle of life and death, accompanied by the
rollercoaster of emotions present throughout that period of time.
Each figure
in this painting represents part of a timeline in a story, and concurrently,
happen to be the same people at different stages of life. The young, excited
girl on the left shows interest in the apparent beauty of life and really
doesn’t demand much from life. From this point, we can move towards the
background to the other girl in the patterned dress. There is not much
difference in physical appearance between the two; however, they seem to have a
different line of focus. The girl in front seems to be gazing at the growing
flower, whereas, the one in back is gazing at the couple dancing in the center.
Whether this girl in the back is gazing out of mere desire, interest or even
jealousy cannot be known. Regardless of her intentions at the time, we can
assume logically that the next stage is the dance itself. We come to the couple
in the center that are clearly in love,
or at least appear to be.
The whole story
is an eternal revolving door that causes the eyes
to move from the center of
focus, to the next likely subject. The distance of the young lady relative to
the older lady signifies our perception of the length of life. When we’re young
we believe that we have an entire lifetime ahead of us,
and as we grow older we
realize how short life truly is.
Regardless, love and companionship
are what
really motivates us to move from one point to another in life.
-- April 7, 2012 © Renee Baker. All Rights Reserved. --
References:
Google
Art Project. (n.d.). Collection: The
Dance of Life, Edvard Munch, The Munch Museum. Retrieved April 7, 2012 from
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