Allen Jones

In 1999, Allen Jones (b 1937) created “Dance” using Lithography.

Lithography is a chemical process where the image is drawn onto a stone plate with a special grease-based crayon. An oil-based paint is stuck onto the stone with a sticky substance and then passed through a printing press with a piece of paper. The image is then transferred to the paper and colour can be added.

 

 The square edges of the orange against the yellow gives a suggestion of a door through which can be seen a couple dancing. This suggestion of a door and the idea of a curtain created by the blue material, gives a feeling of perspective and depth to the image. The yellow also gives the impression that the dancers are in the spotlight.

I like the colour in this image and the way that the black adds texture and shadow to the material. However, the image itself is not the sort of thing that I would stop and admire. It gives me a feeling of danger and makes me feel like I’ve got my guard up – I am not sure if it is the figure which seems to be sneaking off somewhere or the reddish orange or even the combination of the two, that gives me this feeling.