Dansende figuur, naar rechts 1849 - 1917

This sketch of a dancing figure, moving right, was created by Matthijs Maris. The figure’s arms are raised, legs in motion—a timeless gesture echoing through millennia. Consider, for example, the ecstatic dancers depicted in ancient Minoan frescoes, or the frenzied Maenads in classical Greek art. The act of raising one's arms, of lifting the body in dance, has long symbolized a connection to the divine, a surrender to forces beyond the self. This motif resurfaces throughout history; during the Renaissance it takes on new meanings in depictions of religious ecstasy. It has also been used to express liberation. The archetype continues to evolve, shifting in meaning, yet always retaining a kernel of its original ecstatic charge. The dance taps into a primal impulse, a collective memory of rituals and celebrations. It is a powerful expression of our shared humanity.