The artwork “Dances of Mexico” by Carlos Merida, created in 1939, is an expression of the Muralism movement and falls within the genre painting category. The painting embodies the cultural spirit and traditional dance themes from Mexico, a common subject of the time that sought to depict everyday life and the country’s rich heritage.
The piece showcases two figures engaged in dance, with an evident stylization of form and color. The dancers appear in profile, with their bodies simplified into broad shapes and outlines, giving the work a strong sense of geometric abstraction. Their faces are adorned with masks that feature intense red tones, expressive eyes, and lips. The masks, along with the hats, suggest a type of traditional Mexican folk costume, thus reflecting the cultural subject matter of the piece.
The color palette primarily consists of red, yellow, and shades of gray, set against a light background that helps the figures stand out. The composition achieves a dynamic sense of movement through the interplay of forms and the winding yellow line that suggests the flow of the dance or perhaps a lasso in use. Merida employs flat areas of color and avoids detailed representation, leaning towards a modernist abstraction that is rooted in the essence of Mexican cultural motifs.
