Face to Face with the Dance
Dance of the Generations by Rita Miramontes. See the print
The Movement of Dance
Expression of the dance is a key unifying element in Rita Miramontes' work. The fluidity of movement in her figures ties each composition together. There is strong emphasis on the flow of movement, carrying the viewer from one element to another, encircling the canvas and enveloping the dancers.
The vine is a recurring symbol. It represents the enclosed, protected Paradisal Garden, and it also emphasizes the fluidity and energy of the dance.
Face to Face
Most of the figures Miramontes paints are life size, which creates a strong presence for the viewer. The figures meet you face to face, so you are no longer a passive observer. Their positions, gestures and direct glances beckon you to enter the scene and become part of the reality expressed there.
That invitation to be involved, not just to look, draws the viewer in and gives a taste of the fuller experience of Paradise expressed on the canvas.
Every Generation
Children and older adults appear together, representing the generations through time and giving a sense of balance, unity and groundedness. An attitude of innocence in the figures emphasizes the paradisal existence in the Garden.
See what life size looks like in person: Painting Life Size: Why Rita Miramontes Works Big.
More in This Series
This article is part of a series on the art of Rita Miramontes.
- The Visual Language of Color
- Paradise Garden: The Iconography
- Words in the Paint
- How Rita Paints: Impasto, Color and Light
Explore the paintings in the full collection, or read more about Rita.
