Tangerine Arabesque is a contemporary figurative ballet painting that explores what lies beneath the elegance of classical dance: the discipline, repetition, physical strain, and endurance required to make movement appear effortless.
The arabesque, one of ballet’s most iconic poses, is defined by balance, extension, and control. In this work, the dancer’s form is held in a moment of precision that reveals the reality behind the performance: muscles under tension, breath regulated through practice, and strength built over countless hours of rehearsal. The vibrant tangerine carries a sense of energy, reflecting the intensity and resilience that drives the dancer long before the curtain rises.
This painting honours the human form not simply as an idealised symbol of grace, but as a working body shaped by movement, rhythm, and persistence which captures the unseen labour that gives ballet its quiet power.
Original Art by Derek Watkins Artist
Acrylics on Canvas
101cm x 76cm
Year Painted - 2025
Comes in a 1cm wide walnut contemporary frame ready to hang
Signed on the back along with a Certificate of Authorisation
