The Tight-rope Dance

“The Tight-rope Dance” (1878) is a delicate work, reminding us that Émile Reynaud’s animation experiments are a genuine delight. Included in his first series of strips, it features a young female acrobat, dressed in a pink costume, dancing gracefully on a tightrope. The geometrical lines of the composition create a perception of harmonious movement, seamlessly generating an internal score that accompanies the heroine’s silent dance. The lasting impression is one of charm, enhanced by the warmth of the chosen colours. This work is another example in which Reynaud’s artistry takes precedence over his technical achievement, a characteristic found throughout most of his early praxinoscope productions.