Customized modern abstract art paintings

We couldn't finish the dance yesterday

120 x 150 cm6800 $

This painting was created in 2020, the year I just graduated from college and was in a period of transition. The subject matter and style of painting continued from my college days.

It's a pity.

Inches: 47.2 x 59 in
Size without the frame: 120 cm x 150 cm
Country: China
Date: 2020
Materials: Oil paint on linen
Condition: well preserved

Creative themes and style | My works revolve around the creative concept of "The land of humanity, People on the land". The people in the painting are people in nature, and the lines, shapes, and colors are close to nature. The nature in the painting is nature in the eyes of humans, existing in interaction with humans.I don’t pursue a series of works with a fixed and continuous style. I hope that the style of the pictures will synchronize with the changes in my life and always remain oscillating. The performance of the work must be in sync with the development of one's own life in order to be Sincere and powerful. Ideas are later.

If you would like to collect this artwork or know more about the artist, please contact us.

framed canvas print,self-portrait with cropped hair,oil painting landscape,realism in art.

Reference view

acrylic painting acrylic painting original

Artwork Interpretation

The content presents the interactive posture of two figures. The figures, outlined by lines, are exaggerated and deformed, as if frozen in a dance, with the unfinished movement hinting at a story. Several bar stools in the foreground serve as anchors to the real - world scene, colliding with the abstract forms of the figures and adding narrative tension. In terms of composition, the figures occupy the visual center. The background elements of mountains, waters, and buildings spread horizontally to create a space, forming a relationship of "unfinished interaction" between the figures and the environment, guiding viewers to explore the regret behind it.

The use of color is highly impactful. A large area of bright yellow covers the figures, being bright yet not dazzling, conveying a warm emotional undertone. It contrasts with the low - saturation tones such as blue, purple, and brown in the background, highlighting the main subject and also implying the temperature difference between the characters' emotions and the real environment. The painting style combines expressionism and abstractness. By means of deformed figures and subjective colors, it breaks free from the constraints of realism. Similar to the romantic treatment of emotions in Marc Chagall's works, however, this work focuses more on the interweaving of real - world fragments (bar stools) and abstract emotions (the unfinished dance). It uses seemingly casual brushstrokes to intensify the sense of regret of "unfinishedness". The emotional expression is hidden in the details. The extended limbs and interlaced lines of the figures represent the longing to "continue dancing", while the stillness of the bar stools symbolizes the obstacles of reality. It transforms the regret of "not finishing the dance yesterday" into visual symbols, allowing viewers to experience the suddenly interrupted emotions in the conflict of colors and forms, and unearth the truncated poetry in daily fragments.

Recommended Works with Similar Styles

Egon Schiele, Death and the Maiden：Twisted lines and intense colors convey life contradictions via figure symbols.
Francis Bacon, Study of a Figure：Deformed shapes and thick brushstrokes release spiritual anxiety via symbols.
Zao Wou - Ki, June to October 1985：Abstract brushstrokes and color blending convey spiritual rhythm via color - block symbols.
Joan Mitchell, Champs：Free brushstrokes and color collisions express inner surges via abstract symbols.
Antoni Tàpies, White and Black：Minimalist forms and textural colors explore existential essence via material symbols.

FAQs

Why does yellow dominate as the main narrative color?

In this painting, yellow is more than a bright background—it acts as an atmospheric projection. It envelops the dancer’s body and movement, casting a soft yet bittersweet glow. The diffusion of yellow creates the sensation of time being suspended, as if the dance were interrupted, while still leaving behind warmth and lingering rhythm.

Why is the dancer’s body outlined with linear strokes?

The figure is not rendered with full solidity but instead abstracted into fluid lines and color blocks. This approach places the dancer between presence and dissolution. The viewer can sense the rhythm of movement, yet the blurred contours suggest that dance is unfinished, where memory and emotion become the true subject of the painting.

Why do faint silhouettes of city buildings appear in the background?

The distant urban skyline functions as a counterpoint, symbolizing rational order and the coolness of modern city life, set against the foreground’s free, emotional dance. This juxtaposition elevates the work beyond a simple dance theme, embedding a social metaphor that highlights the tension between individual emotion and urban environment.

What type of space is this painting best suited for?

With its core palette of yellow, blue, and red, the piece radiates both warmth and a touch of melancholy. It is ideal for modern living spaces, art-themed cafés, or dance studios. In public venues it can spark conversation, while in private interiors it serves as a catalyst for reflection and emotion, making it highly adaptable to different settings.

From an art collection perspective, where does its value lie?

This work belongs to the genre of contemporary figurative-abstraction, using simplified lines and colors to transform dance’s dynamic energy—and its sense of incompletion—into a compelling visual narrative. Its uniqueness lies in recording the subtle relationship between urban life and individual states of mind. For collectors, it carries long-term value as a potential representative work of contemporary emotional expression in the art market.

What should I pay attention to when buying an artwork or its derivatives?

A: Click here to view ARTPHILOSO's Guide for Collectors.

More paintings from this series：

Finally finished that dance