Poussin and the Dance

Poussin and the Dance explores Nicolas Poussin’s intriguing scenes of bacchanalian revelry, tripping maenads, and skipping nymphs, which are frequently described as ‘dancelike’ and ‘choreographed’. Through these dancing pictures, Poussin developed a novel approach to painting, eventually laying the groundwork for the French classical tradition.

Abandoning the sensuous, painterly style of his early years, Poussin crafted a crisp, relief-like technique that became characteristic of his mature works. This approach set the standard for French art over three centuries, influencing artists from Le Brun and David to Cézanne and Picasso. Poussin’s engagement with dance permeated every facet of his artistic production.

This book compiles a significant collection of Poussin’s paintings and drawings, delving into the theme of dance and dancers in his work for the first time. Concentrating on the dancing pictures he created in Rome during the 1620s and 1630s, the essays link Poussin’s fascination with dance, his antiquities research, and his creation of a new classical style. Richly illustrated and engagingly written, this publication uses the lens of dance to present Poussin in a refreshing, new perspective.