Our Souls In Slow Movement Analysis

Our Souls in Slow Movement, is a symbolist painting by Denis, as part of his album Amour, of two sisters sitting by a piano. The younger girl, Eva, is playing the piano while her sister, Marthe, listens. Adagio refers to a tempo marking, indicating that the music is to be played slowly, or a composition intended to be played in this manner. Therefore, Denis chooses the slow Adagio movement for his title because Eva is playing the piano, creating music. The sisters look at peace and in a dreamy and relaxed state of mind as they both have their eyes closed, focusing on the music. Not only here but in other paintings in Denis’ Amour do we see delicate women as the main subject.
The colors used in this painting help to connect Eva and Marthe’s kindred spirits. Both the girls have red/orange hair; the wall behind them is a similar reddish shade to their hair; and an almost identical, lighter hue of that red is seen as the base …show more content…
Marthe’s hand is placed gracefully atop the center of the piano; in that hand, she holds a flower, specifically a rose. There is also a gold vase and flowers on the side of the piano and roses, just like the one in her hand, behind her. The rose in her hand is placed in the middle of the piano and the painting. The roses are feminine and symbolize the love between the sisters and the music. Hence, the rose is specifically placed in the center because of what it represents which bonds the sisters’ souls. The flowers and music are delicate and fertile, just like the sisters are. In almost all of Denis’ other paintings in the collection, roses appear mostly in the middle of the paintings. That being said, flowers are not only seen in Denis’ work but other symbolist artists as well. For example, flowers are in the middle of Hodler’s paintings Helene Weigle with a Flower, Girl with a Poppy, and The Dream, as well as in Mondrian’s Pasion