Singer Singing "Applause" 

The singer stoically returns to the stage despite having been informed of her lover's death. The “Applause” in the title is the name of a song that describes this situation, and it was famously sung by Chiaki Naomi, a leading performer of the Showa Era (1926–1989). In early sketches for the painting, the singer was dressed in black, but here she wears a bright red dress, with a black veil just discernible in her hair being the only remaining hint of mourning. The red dress merges with her pinkish skin and the lines of her body, conveying all the passion spilling from her. The artist actually visited shows, bought his own instruments and practiced drawing them. And yet, in the end, the band members are depicted in just gold and silver silhouette, and the lines of the singer’s face are simplified to single strokes. The omission of those details further emphasizes the overwhelming presence of the singer.
(HIBINO Miyon)