Dynamic expression of the movement of a dancer

The painting ‘Dynamic expression of the movement of a dancer’ (1914) by Jules Schmalzigaug (1882-1917) was exhibited in the Spring of 1914 at the 30th edition of the Parisian Salon des Indépendants. The Antwerp artist found himself at that moment, however, not in the French capital, but in Italy. Schmalzigaug moved to Venice in 1912, after being piqued by Futurism that he was exposed to during a two-year stay in Paris (1910-1912). Under the influence of the (originally) Italian art movement, he was more and more interested in the dynamic and the representation of movement. That could be achieved through employing multiple perspectives in place of holding firm to just one point of view. Schmalzigaug applies this aspect in ‘Dynamic expression of the movement of a dancer’. By way of fine brush strokes in blue, yellow and red, the subject comes into the picture in a whirling manner.