Dance

Dance and the intriguing cultures around it have inspired artists since ancient times. As well as being a rich and meaningful subject for artists, dance also presents the interesting technical challenge of capturing the human form in movement.

This exhibition explores the theme of dance through key artworks from across the National Collection. It juxtaposes works of art made in very different periods, styles and media, ranging from two beautiful nineteenth-century studies of classical ballet dancers by Edgar Degas, to an exuberant late-1950s linocut by Pablo Picasso.

The most recent works, two photographs by Diane Arbus from the ARTIST ROOMS collection jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, successfully capture the sense of mystery and fascination associated with the dance profession.

Dance also unites dynamic studies of high-kicking dancers by Arthur Melville from the National Gallery of Scotland and Walter Sickert from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.