For Matisse the movement of the body was an object of endless fascination. Whereas Degas was known for a similar fascination, on the whole his dancers are static, caught in the moment. With Matisse the idea of dance and movement became central—movement and pattern dominate the work.
Étrange Farandole, Monte-Carlo, 1938. Stage sets and costumes by Henri Matisse.
Photo: Archives H. Matisse