"In 1913 Severini began work on a series of images exploring popular dances such as the 'Bear Dance' and the Argentine Tango. In contrast to his earlier paintings and the abstracted analogies that follow, where the representation of the artist's state of mind is a priority, these works emphasized the evocative power of strong color and simplified form. American 'animal' dances and the Latin based tango were introduced to Paris by 1911 through, among others, the music of Irving Berlin and the popular dance couple 'Vernon and Irene Castle'."