Robert Riggs, Dancer

In 1924, Riggs left his position as an illustrator at N. W. Ayer and Son to travel the world, from North Africa to Thailand (then called Siam) to Java. When he returned, he exhibited his drawings and watercolors at the Society of Allied Arts in Philadelphia. Here a dancer in traditional costume poses in mid-act, her arm lifted and right leg bent forward. Riggs used red chalk to subtly bring shading and three-dimensionality to the figure.