First Communicants
1898 Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK)
About this artwork
Maurice Denis, a key figure in the Symbolist movement and Les Nabis, created this painting depicting "First Communicants," highlighting the spiritual solemnity of the event through simplified forms and a muted color palette. The work reflects his theories on the decorative and symbolic nature of art.
Did you know?
Maurice Denis famously proclaimed that "a painting – before being a battle horse, a nude woman, or some anecdote – is essentially a flat surface covered with colors assembled in a certain order." This principle is powerfully demonstrated in "First Communicants," where the flattened forms and harmonious, spiritual colors transcend mere representation to evoke the profound essence of a sacred ritual, rather than just illustrating a scene.
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First Communicants
Maurice Denis, 1898
