Ever walked into a room and felt the temperature just... rise? Not because of the heater, but because of a painting? Honestly, that is the vibe Francisco Iturrino brings to the table. His work Nudes (Women Dancing in a Ring), or Desnudos (Mujeres bailando en corro), is essentially a heatwave on canvas.
People often overlook Iturrino because he was standing in the shadows of giants like Picasso and Matisse. But here’s the thing: those guys actually respected him. Like, a lot. This particular painting, created somewhere between 1916 and 1918, isn't just a bunch of people dancing. It is a loud, unapologetic celebration of life, light, and the kind of "fury of color" that makes modern Instagram filters look dull.
What Most People Get Wrong About Iturrino’s Ring
When you see a circle of women dancing in art history, your brain probably jumps straight to Matisse’s The Dance. It’s a natural reflex. Matisse was Iturrino's close buddy, after all. They traveled to Morocco together in 1911. They shared studios in Seville. They were basically the "power duo" of the early 20th-century avant-garde.
But Iturrino’s Women Dancing in a Ring hits different.
While Matisse was leaning into flat, minimalist shapes, Iturrino was obsessed with the "flesh and blood" of it all. His women aren't just symbols of dance; they feel like real people you might meet at a festival in Andalusia, minus the clothes. There is a weight to them. A presence. You’ve got this incredible mix of Spanish tradition—think flamenco energy and Mediterranean sunlight—blended with the wild, "savage" colors of Fauvism.
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The painting is currently housed at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao). If you ever find yourself in northern Spain, go see it. It’s massive. We’re talking over five feet wide. You can’t just glance at it; you have to experience it.
The "Spaniard of Paris" and His Radical Palette
Iturrino was kind of a nomad. Born in Santander in 1864, he went to Belgium to study engineering but basically ghosted his classes to paint. Relatable, right? He eventually landed in Paris and became known as "The Spaniard of Paris."
In Women Dancing in a Ring, you see the culmination of his life’s work. He used what experts call a "diaphanous" technique. Basically, he applied the oil paint so thinly in some spots that it looks like watercolor. This lets the light bounce off the white primer of the canvas, making the whole scene glow.
Why the ring?
The circular dance is one of the oldest symbols in human history. It’s about community, the cycle of life, and getting lost in the moment. Iturrino captures the "instant" like a snapshot. One of the women is looking almost directly at you, which was super modern for the time. It breaks that "fourth wall" and makes you feel like you're standing right there in the garden with them.
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- The Palette: He uses these shocking greens, fiery oranges, and deep blues.
- The Brushwork: It's loose. It’s messy. It’s alive.
- The Atmosphere: It feels like a humid summer afternoon where the air is thick and nobody cares about the rules.
The Connection to the "Black Spain" vs. "Bright Spain"
Back then, Spanish art was often split into two camps. You had the "Black Spain" (España Negra) crew like Zuloaga, who painted dark, moody, serious stuff. Then you had the light-seekers like Sorolla.
Iturrino was the bridge. He took the traditional Spanish themes—the "Manolas," the bullfights, the gypsies—and doused them in the neon lights of the French Fauves. Women Dancing in a Ring is the peak of this transition. It’s Spanish in its soul but French in its execution. Honestly, it’s the best of both worlds.
A Legacy Written in Color
Iturrino’s later life was pretty rough. He struggled with gangrene and had to have a leg amputated in 1921. He lost his money. He lost his health. But his friends—Picasso and Matisse—didn't forget him. They actually organized an auction to raise money so he could retire comfortably in the south of France.
He died in 1924 in Cagnes-sur-Mer, but works like Women Dancing in a Ring keep that "fury" alive. It reminds us that art doesn't always have to be a puzzle to solve. Sometimes, it’s just about the feeling of the sun on your skin and the rhythm of a dance that never ends.
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How to Appreciate This Work Today
If you want to really "get" Iturrino, don't look for perfection. Look for movement.
- Observe the edges: Notice how some figures are cut off by the frame. This makes the scene feel spontaneous, like a photo taken on a whim.
- Trace the light: Look for those "white patches" where the canvas peaks through. That’s where the energy comes from.
- Forget the "Nude" aspect: This isn't about eroticism. It's about freedom. It’s about the body as a part of nature, just like the trees and the light in the background.
Next time you’re scrolling through art history or visiting a museum, look for the guy who wasn't afraid to let the colors run wild. That’s Francisco Iturrino.
Actionable Insight:
To truly understand the impact of Iturrino's use of light, try this: look at a digital reproduction of Women Dancing in a Ring and then look at a traditional 19th-century academic portrait. Notice how the shadows in Iturrino’s work aren't just "black" or "brown"—they are composed of blues, purples, and deep greens. This shift in seeing shadow as a color is the "secret sauce" of modern art that Iturrino helped pioneer.