Private Dancer: The Story Behind Jack Vettriano's Painting
Some Vettriano paintings need a moment before you work out what is going on. Private Dancer tells you almost everything at once, and then leaves you thinking about it for a long time afterwards.
What the painting shows
We see the woman from behind. She wears a short black dress with straps crossed over her bare back, her hands resting on her hips, and she stands very close to a man seated on a deep red velvet banquette. We can see almost nothing of him: a white shirt cuff, a hand, dark trousers. Further back, framed by a lit doorway, another couple are locked in an embrace.
It is a painting built on what is withheld. We never see her face, and we barely see his. Vettriano puts us in the position of a third person in the room, close enough to feel the tension and too far away to know how the scene ends.
The title
The title borrows from Private Dancer, the Mark Knopfler song that gave Tina Turner the title track of her 1984 comeback album. The song is sung from the point of view of a dancer who performs for money while keeping her real self out of reach, and the painting carries the same idea. She is the one being watched, but she is the one in control. He is seated, passive and in shadow; she is standing and decides what happens next.
Performance and power run through much of Vettriano's work, from the dance-hall paintings to the late-night interiors, and Private Dancer is one of the clearest statements of that theme.
Colour and atmosphere
The palette is almost entirely red, black and warm shadow. The red banquette fills the lower half of the picture like a stage, the black dress cuts sharply against it, and the glowing doorway in the background gives the room depth. It is a palette Vettriano returned to again and again in his night scenes, and it is a big part of why this image reads so strongly from across a room. If you like the mood of Private Dancer, our piece on The Red Room Collection explores the same territory.
About this edition
Private Dancer was published in 2006 as a signed limited edition giclée.
Edition of 495, plus 50 Artist's Proofs
Signed and numbered by Jack Vettriano
Printed on 310gsm Hahnemühle mould-made paper
Overall size 72 x 58cm (28 x 23 inches)
Supplied with a certificate of authenticity
Because examples come to us individually, each with its own edition number and condition, we quote prices on application.
Where it works best
At 72 x 58cm this is a substantial print, and the strong reds suit a wall where it can be seen from a distance: a living room, a dining room or a bedroom. It is a sensual image rather than a sweet one, so it tends to suit a more private space than a hallway. Our room-by-room styling guide has more ideas, and you can see a print on your own wall before you buy.
Buying with confidence
As an official Jack Vettriano stockist, every print we supply comes with a certificate of authenticity and fully insured UK delivery, with international delivery available on enquiry. If you are new to collecting, our guide to Vettriano certificates of authenticity explains what to look for.
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