Matisse started work on La Danse inachevée in 1931. He drew the eight figures using charcoal attached to a long bamboo. The figures were then painted in grey on a blue background. However, he realized that the size of the work — ca. 355 by 1270 cm (roughly 12 × 42 feet) — would require too much rehandling.
The free Museum of Modern Art (Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris) offers an easy way to see 20th-century and contemporary art inside the Palais de Tokyo. Its standout murals by Matisse and Dufy alone make it worth a detour, and the permanent collection can be enjoyed without tickets or reservations.