Artwork
The Country Dance
The Country Dance is a watercolor work on paper by the Realist artist Walter Shirlaw. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Country Dance, created by Walter Shirlaw in 1874, is a mixed media artwork combining black chalk, gouache, black watercolor, and charcoal on off-white laid paper, mounted on cardboard. It is part of The American Wing collection.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a lively indoor scene where a group of people, men in dark attire and women in lighter dresses, form a circle holding hands, engaged in a dance. Natural light streaming through a window behind them adds to the joyful ambiance.
Technique & Style
Shirlaw's use of black chalk and watercolor creates a sense of vitality. The dancers are rendered with realistic, relaxed postures, characterized by naturalistic arm and foot positions, eschewing stiffness for a more authentic representation.
Context
This piece is contextualized within Shirlaw's broader oeuvre, with similar thematic explorations found in his other drawings, inviting comparison across his works for thematic and stylistic consistencies.
History & Provenance
Created in 1874, the artwork's history prior to its inclusion in The American Wing is not detailed here, highlighting a focus on its current collection affiliation.
Artist & collection
![Polling [recto], by Walter Shirlaw](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/walter-shirlaw--polling-recto--1044610bfaccebe0-w320.webp)
