Born in the same year as Matisse, Valtat belonged to the same generation of painters as Vuillard, Rouault, Picasso, Braque and Léger. Arriving in Paris at an early age, having completed his classical education at Versailles, he spent time at the Académie Julien where he became acquainted with Bonnard, Vuillard and André. The group, who later came to constitute the Nabis, were known to meet at the famous Café Volpini, where they focused on their aesthetic discussions.

Valtat has often been principally associated with the Fauves, partly due to his involvement in the scandalous Cage des Fauves at the Salon d’Automne of 1905. Indeed his early work gradually took on a more radical approach to colour, moving away from a realistic representation of nature. The present work is a wonderful example of Valtat’s fauvist taste for bright colours and a rigorous, trembling touch that animates his watercolours with a dance-like quality.

This is a delightful watercolour that exemplifies the spontaneity and joy of Valtat’s style. Here, the flow of the dancing figures, achieved with an incredible economy of line, evoke a wonderful sense of movement, rendering it an exquisite and intimate example of Valtat’s oeuvre.