Dancer Deux

Why does the art of Anais Demois continue to astound us?

The photos of Anais Demois have been gracing the pages of Met Art for years. He used to be one of the most popular photographers, with an enlivening combination of sensualism and mysticism, innocence and seduction, glamour and naturalism. And among all his series, Dancer Deux is one of the finest and most popular.

The concept behind Dancer Deux is simple. A stunningly beautiful young model is sitting on a white floor in front of a white wall. There is a cloth on the floor. She is naked, except for her thick wool socks.

Sometimes she appears to be dancing, sometimes she is playing with a flower, sometimes she is running her fingers thru her hair. Throughout it all, she is coyly, shyly, seductively looking at the camera. Her beauty is simple and shocking.

But due to Demois’ artistry, something very deep emerges from these photos. In the model’s eyes you can see it. She is looking at you. She is opening up to you. She is making herself available to your view. That is what Demois does so perfectly. He puts us inside the model. He turns a two-dimensional art form into a three dimensional experience.

The dancer in Dancer Deux comes to life in his lens.