Belly Dancer 2013

Nelson Shanks made "Belly Dancer" with oil paints, though it's unclear exactly when. I love the fluidity of the brushstrokes here, how they capture a sense of movement. It's like the painting itself is dancing. Look at the dancer's midriff – Shanks uses a range of blues, greens and purples to capture the folds of her skin in a way that feels both real and surreal. It's the kind of color play you see in the later works of someone like Walter Sickert, who used strange hues to create an unsettling atmosphere. The peacock feathers on the right also feel like they're moving. Shanks's loose brushwork and willingness to experiment with color make for a compelling and dreamlike composition. The image isn't static, it feels like you have entered a dynamic stage set. It reminds us that art is always a conversation, a dance between artists across time.