A very old bark painting depicting two dancers or a male-female couple, two phasma-like beings wearing large headdresses, who seem to be connecting to each other's entrails. According to Pierre Langlois, who collected and then sold this work, this representation is all the rarer for being very old, dating back to the 19th century (and according to P.Langlois' information, collected in 1890 by William Wyatt in the northern territories, Arnhem Land, of the Oenpelli communities). Indeed, a close look reveals a particular quality, finesse and sensitivity that distinguishes this bark painting from most of the more recent paintings, and in particular all those published in the reference work Inspired By Country-Bark Paintings from Northern Australia, published by Hirmer. Unknown artist, 19th century Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia Paint on bark, very fine age oxidation, age cracks visible, mounted on panel. Height: 81cm Provenance: William Wyatt, Australia 1890 Pierre Langlois Collection Private collection, Paris, acquired from him in 1993 Passed on by descent