Carmencita
1890
William Merritt Chase captured the fiery Spanish dancer Carmencita mid-performance in this dazzling 1890 portrait. Dressed in a sweeping black gown with intricate gold trim, she clicks her castanets with a confident, almost mischievous smirk, completely ignoring the bouquet of roses tossed at her feet. Chase was so captivated by her electrifying New York performances that he painted her multiple times, immortalizing the woman who would later become the first female subject ever filmed by Thomas Edison's camera crew.
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