Severini, a native of Italy, spent most of his professional life in Paris, but maintained important associations with the Italian Futurist movement. The Futurists were interested in the concept of simultaneity, the theory that nothing in the universe is static. They believed all perceptions of reality are shaped by the dynamic effects of time, perceivable only through intuition. This concept led Futurist painters to attempt to incorporate a sense of duration in their paintings. In Dancer at Pigalle’s, Severini seeks to capture the essence of a dancer’s movement as she twirls around, her dress spinning out in concentric circles. He builds up the canvas with gesso, literally creating a third dimension. Severini also modernized the work by attaching sequins to the surface to reflect light and evoke the electric lights of the dance hall.