1922
pastel
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Views of a Dancing Nude is a 1922 pastel by Arthur Bowen Davies, held at National Gallery of Art.
This pastel sketch shows two women dancing side by side, their bodies turned in different directions. One faces left, her arms outstretched, while the other faces right with her arms behind her back. The colors are soft—pinkish skin tones on one, grayish on the other—with quick, loose strokes that make the scene feel alive. The artist used pastel, a chalky medium that lets colors blend easily. Notice how the lines are sketchy but confident, almost like a quick study. Next, look up pastel to see how this soft, creamy material works.
Arthur Bowen Davies (September 26, 1862 – October 24, 1928) was an avant-garde American artist and influential advocate of modern art in the United States c. 1910–1928.
See the richer artist page
