The Dancers

model 1971, cast 1982

George Segal

Artist, American, 1924 - 2000

Four ivory-white, free-standing, nude women dance in a circle on a wooden surface against a deeply shadowed background. In this photograph, the two women on the far side of the circle face us, one to our left turns away from us, and the one closest to us faces our left in profile. The one facing our left leans forward with her arms spread wide at shoulder height. Her near leg extends back, and the other leg is bent slightly at the knee. The woman to our left has her back to us. Her right arm reaches out to her right, and she steps forward onto the ball of her left foot. The third woman stands beyond and between the first two. She is angled to our right with her arms spread outward and her right leg, on our left, stepping back. The final woman is on the right and faces us with her head bowed down and to our left. She spreads her arms out just below shoulder-height, and her feet are turned in opposite directions.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze with white patina

  • Credit Line

    Gift of the Collectors Committee

  • Dimensions

    overall installed: 179.07 x 269.24 x 180.34 cm (70 1/2 x 106 x 71 in.)
    base: 12 x 396.3 x 304.8 cm (4 3/4 x 156 x 120 in.)

  • Accession

    1983.78.1


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist; purchased 2 February 1983 through (Sidney Janis Gallery, New York) by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1988

  • Wilmerding, John. American Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art. Rev. ed. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1988: 45, repro.

1989

  • Strick, Jeremy. Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture: Selections for the Tenth Anniversary of the East Building. Washington, D.C., 1989: 118, repro. 119.

1991

  • Kopper, Philip. America's National Gallery of Art: A Gift to the Nation. New York, 1991: 5, color repro.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 215, repro.

Inscriptions

on proper left side of right heel of figure with her left leg raised in low arabesque: (Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture stamp)

Markings

FM: Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture

Wikidata ID

Q63860846


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