Ballerina's Back 1967

Vilen Barsky's "Ballerina's Back" presents us with dancers, their gestures echoing across time and space. The ballet dancer, a symbol of grace, precision, and control, stands centrally. Notice how the raised arms and arched back, evoke ancient motifs of reaching towards the divine, gestures found in Minoan frescoes, where figures celebrate nature's power. The dancer's tutu, a cloud-like garment, adds a touch of ethereality, reminiscent of Renaissance depictions of angels. The dancer’s pose, a display of both strength and vulnerability, touches deep chords within us. This image evokes a powerful emotional response, engaging our subconscious. The cyclical progression of the symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in the contemporary world.