Comparative Analysis of "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Picasso and "The Dance" by Matisse

Comparative Analysis of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and The Dance         The Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907, Museum of Modern Art, New York), is an oil on canvas painting by Pablo Picasso. This is an image of five nudes grouped around a still life. Of the five figures, four of the figures are facing the viewer. There is a disjunction in the fifth figure as she is crouched on the floor, her back away from the viewer, while her …

…to dominate and distort them. Even today when we are confronted with this painting, it is hard to restrain a momentary fear. The Dance captures the beauty of women and dance through the traditional beauties of art. Picasso no longer considers the themes of traditional beauty of art nor the realistic portrayal of his subject. The Les Demoiselles d'Avignon stands as a cruel representation to the delight of the senses that Matisse's the Dance exalts.