Study for the Dance Mural

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

This work is one of four gouache studies that Matisse made while working on the Dance mural for Dr. Barnes. These small color studies helped the artist work out the palette for the mural; as the Barnes work attests, Matisse initially considered incorporating a bright section of yellow at the bottom right of the composition. Once he had finalized the color scheme of blue, black, and pink, he likely didn't need these studies anymore and gifted one to Dr. Barnes.

Source ↗︎