The artwork, titled “Dancing Girl,” was crafted by the artist William Merritt Chase around the year 1881. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece is an exemplar of the Impressionism art movement. Measuring 67.31 x 39.37 cm, “Dancing Girl” falls within the genre painting category and currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a woman caught in mid-dance, adorned in an elaborate costume. Central to the composition, she is dressed in a flowing white gown with a vibrant red shawl draped over her shoulders. Her dynamic pose, partly covering her face with her hand, suggests a sense of movement and spontaneity. The background is softly textured, with an impressionistic approach to the depiction of walls and floor, contributing to the ethereal ambiance of the scene. A small bowl lies on the ground in the lower right corner of the painting, adding a touch of everyday life to the graceful depiction of dance. The overall impression is one of vivid movement captured in a fleeting moment, characteristic of Chase’s sensitive handling of light and color.
