Russian Dancers

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1909

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

About this work

This painting shows two dancers in bold, flat colors. One person lies on their back, legs bent, while the other stands in a yellow outfit, holding a white object. The background is messy with dark shapes and splashes of red and blue, like a stage gone wild. The artist used thick, rough lines to keep things simple and expressive. The colors pop—bright yellow, deep red, and stark black—making the scene feel energetic. Next, check out lithography to see how this print was made.