Children Dancing, II 1895

Editor: We're looking at "Children Dancing, II" by Lilla Cabot Perry, created in 1895. It's a painting, and the immediate feeling I get is one of gentle motion. The girls' dresses seem to swirl around them even though they are barely moving. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: Note how Perry's impasto technique renders visible the delicate brushstrokes, a characteristic feature of Impressionism, endowing the girls' dresses with an almost ethereal quality. Observe how Perry organizes pictorial space with attention to surface. Are the two girls situated symmetrically or asymmetrically, and to what effect? Editor: It does seem asymmetrical, but in a balanced way. One girl wears white and the other a lilac patterned dress. It stops it being too rigid. Do the subdued colours have any formal effect? Curator: Precisely. Perry's subdued palette emphasizes subtle shifts of light and texture, further heightening the image's evocative atmosphere. The almost palpable sense of stillness allows a study into the composition and use of colour and light. Do you consider that there is a deeper theme within this snapshot? Editor: That's interesting. I was really focused on the aesthetic aspect, so thank you for offering an alternative way to consider the piece. I'm going to think more about composition from now on! Curator: Likewise, your attention to the colours opens up a further path of analysis. Every viewing brings forth a richer dialogue and more considerations of an artwork.