The Strike of the Ballerinas | Nicolaas van der Waay | c. 1936 Henri Rousseau Created in the 20th century

Created in the 20th century

The painting features a spectral

and the futility of material possessions

Painted in 1871

part of his famous "Houses of Parliament" series

The Strike of the Ballerinas | Nicolaas van der Waay | c. 1936 Henri Rousseau Created in the 20th centuryAbout the artwork: In Nicolaas van der Waays The Strike of the Ballerinas, the artist turns a normally graceful, disciplined world into a scene of surprising defiance, using the poised bodies of dancers to explore tension beneath beauty. The ballerinas, gathered together in protest rather than performance, break the illusion of effortless elegance that ballet usually projects. Their crossed arms, casual poses, and unified stance contrast sharply with