Play and Dance
- Artist: Halfdan Egedius
- Creation date: 1896
About
Though the painting Play and Dance is often referred to as “unfinished”, it has nonetheless remained one of Halfdan Egedius’s principal works. Egedius uses a subdued palette, and the various shapes seem only partially finished, or else they recede into an indeterminable darkness. The surroundings and details are downplayed in favour of an immediate, holistic impression. The relaxed form enhances the painting’s atmospheric motifs of music, rhythm, dancing, and ecstasy.
Egedius created the painting in Bø in Telemark in the summer of 1896, with his fellow painter Torleiv Stadskleiv posing as the fiddler. During his first trip to Telemark in 1892, Egedius had been captivated by its nature and culture and in particular the inherent “ferocity” of the region’s heritage of music and dance. Egedius worked on this theme for quite some time, and we know of several drawings, preliminary studies, and variations of the motif. The relationship between the fiddler, the instrument, and the people dancing creates a hypnotic impression of sound, movement, and strong emotion, as underscored by the broad strokes and hasty dabs of colour. Music was incidentally a common theme in paintings of the 1890s.
The women in the background are attired in characteristic folk costumes. The bright profile of the fiddler, placed far to the left, contrasts with the darkness of the background, and the light gives his face a dramatic appearance. With eyes half closed, he gives in to the music’s ability to egg the dancers on. A central element in the composition is a mysterious red shape – perhaps an abstract symbol of the feelings and forces at play?
- Creation date:
- 1896
- Other titles:
- Spill og dans (NOR)
- Object type:
- Painting
- Materials and techniques:
- Olje på lerret
- Material:
- Canvas
- Dimensions:
- Height: 83 cm
- Width: 95.5 cm
- Keywords:
- Visual art
- Classification:
- 532 - Bildende kunst
- Motif - type:
- Portrait
- Motif - person:
- Stadskleiv, Torleiv Jørgensen (depicted person)
- Inventory no.:
- NG.M.00662
- Cataloguing level:
- Single object
- Acquisition:
- Acquired 1905
- Owner and collection:
- Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections
- Photo:
- Børre Høstland/Lathion, Jacques
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Carried out on the basis of
Other works by Halfdan Egedius
Fransk dragonHalfdan Egedius(1888)
GriserHalfdan Egedius(1984)
Tre kuhoderHalfdan Egedius(1894)
HestehodeHalfdan EgediusAntagelig 1893
Two CowsHalfdan Egedius1894
Head in profileHalfdan Egedius(1899)
The Death of King OlavHalfdan Egedius(1899)
Olav's first Voyage with his Foster-Father Rani. Illustration for the History of St OlavHalfdan Egedius(1899)
Slaget ved SvolderHalfdan EgediusCa. 1887
Portrait of a young WomanHalfdan Egedius(1899) Ant.
Portrait of Carl, the Artist's BrotherHalfdan EgediusAntagelig 1887
Study for Play and DanceHalfdan Egedius1896










































