Stomp 1927

Archibald Motley made this painting, called Stomp, sometime in the 20th century, and he seems to have had a lot of fun doing it! The process is alive in the painting - the sense of joyful movement, the bright, almost electric colours popping against a rich, dark ground. The thing I like most about this piece is the way Motley builds up the atmosphere through these colours. The reds and oranges are really vibrant, kind of jumping off the canvas, while the darker tones give depth. You can almost feel the heat and energy of this crowded room. It's like looking at a memory, the way the faces are indistinct but the overall feeling is so strong. And look how he uses these repeated flicks of white paint to create the impression of light reflecting off the dancers' clothes, pulling your eye into the painting. Motley reminds me a little of Jacob Lawrence in how he approaches this subject matter with equal respect for form and story. Both understood that painting could be as much about feeling as it is about seeing. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious. Sometimes, it can just be a celebration of life, in all its messy, beautiful glory.