Bronze Ballet

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: The Tate Modern Gallery, London (the UK).

The work was created in May 1940 in Maresfield, where the artist could hear shelling of French ports by German forces surrounding the British in Dunkirk. Le Havre in northern France is depicted here. The apparent calmness of the landscape with the expanse of the sea and sailboats under a blue sky hides the sense of anxiety. However, the deadly ballet is about to begin – the author of the picture, who in his late period was interested in animism, ascribes feelings and life to inanimate objects. Here, the dynamic forms of ship propellers wait when they can “dance” in fulfillment of their function.