Artwork
Rhythm of a Russian dance
Rhythm of a Russian dance is an oil painting by the De Stijl artist Theo van Doesburg. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
“Rhythm of a Russian Dance” is an oil on canvas executed in 1918 by Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg. The work belongs to the museum’s modern art collection and is currently displayed at the Museum of Modern Art. Its title suggests a visual interpretation of movement derived from traditional Russian folk dance.
Technique & Style
Van Doesburg employs the flat, geometric language of early abstraction, arranging bold blocks of colour to suggest rhythmic motion. The oil medium allows for saturated hues and crisp edges, while the composition remains non‑representational, focusing on the interplay of line and colour rather than figurative detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the immediate post‑World War I period, the painting entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own estate before joining the museum’s collection, where it has been conserved as part of the institution’s early modernist holdings.
Context
The work reflects van Doesburg’s involvement with the De Stijl movement, which emphasized harmony through primary colours and rectangular forms. By referencing a Russian dance, the piece merges avant‑garde abstraction with cultural motifs, illustrating the period’s interest in synthesising folk traditions with contemporary visual language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Theo van Doesburg was a Dutch painter, writer, poet, and architect. He is best known as the founder and leader of De Stijl.
