Round Dance 1931

Maynard Dixon painted this work of figures, presumably in a round dance, in Taos, New Mexico, in December 1931. Look at the way the figures are defined by blocks of colour, almost like cut-outs. It gives a feeling of flatness, of a shallow space that emphasizes the surface of the painting itself. The paint application is fascinating; it’s not overly thick, but you can see the brushstrokes and the way each colour sits slightly separate from the next. The palette itself is so interesting; look at the warm, earthy tones, how they contrast with the cooler blues and greys. Notice too, how the artist subtly models the faces and bodies of the figures. There’s a real sense of presence, a stillness and dignity, yet the colour is quite bold. I think of Marsden Hartley, another artist who was drawn to New Mexico. He used a similarly direct approach to colour and form to convey the spiritual and emotional qualities of the landscape and its people. Like Hartley, Dixon shows us how painting can be a way of seeing and feeling, of connecting with the world around us.