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Lot Essay
Painted in 1898.
In 1898 a group of so-called Ashanti dancers performed in Amsterdam in the year of the coronation of Wilhelmina. The Kingdom of the Ashanti, now part of Ghana, has been renowed in Western Europe for its gold and the trading of gold since the 15th century. Isaac Israels was only interested in visualising both the rhythm and colours of these tribal exotic people from Black Africa. At least 4 versions by Israels are known to us: one beautiful pastel in the Rijksprentenkabinet in Amsterdam, an oil is constantly on view in the Belastingmuseum in Rotterdam and a third composition has been on the market about 2 years ago. This version shows us that Israels tried to get the dynamics right in the sense that he painted the dancers in full swing and almost extatic movement. The combination of the dark coloured background and the orange brightness of the main character makes it a strong and exceptional beautiful painting.
In 1898 a group of so-called Ashanti dancers performed in Amsterdam in the year of the coronation of Wilhelmina. The Kingdom of the Ashanti, now part of Ghana, has been renowed in Western Europe for its gold and the trading of gold since the 15th century. Isaac Israels was only interested in visualising both the rhythm and colours of these tribal exotic people from Black Africa. At least 4 versions by Israels are known to us: one beautiful pastel in the Rijksprentenkabinet in Amsterdam, an oil is constantly on view in the Belastingmuseum in Rotterdam and a third composition has been on the market about 2 years ago. This version shows us that Israels tried to get the dynamics right in the sense that he painted the dancers in full swing and almost extatic movement. The combination of the dark coloured background and the orange brightness of the main character makes it a strong and exceptional beautiful painting.