ART & ARTISTS: Léon Bakst

Wednesday, 5 January 2022

Léon Bakst - part 2

A much underestimated figure in Russian art, Leon Bakst is best known for the decorative art which he created for Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes. Fired by his love of colour, his brightly painted sets and richly coloured costumes combined extravagant designs with refined details to convey a heady atmosphere of Slavonic orientalism. This mixture of modern art with traditional Russian folk art inspired dancers and audiences alike. He became artistic director for Diaghilev in 1909, and his stage designs rapidly brought him international fame. Among his finest creations were the designs for Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty (London, 1921). Bakst also excelled at graphic art, indeed his first real success came in 1898 after he co-founded the influential "World of Art" group, sponsored by Savva Mamontov (1841-1918), and took charge of the illustration of the group's "World of Art" periodical. His exceptional talent at drawing and sketching is exemplified by his pen and ink drawing of Isadora Duncan (1908, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford).

1908 Isadora Duncan
pencil on paper

Although less well-known than many of his contemporaries, Bakst remains one of the most influential of Russian artists, and was chiefly responsible for the visual impact of the Ballets Russes. He revolutionised the design of theatrical scenery and costumes, and ranks among the most influential modern artists of the early 20th century.

For full biographical notes on Bakst, and for earlier works, see part 1 also.

This is part 1 of 9 on the works of Léon Bakst:

1909-12 Cléopâtre (Cleopatra):

1909 Costume design for Ida Rubinstejn in Cléopâtre
© St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music

1909 Costume Design for a Syrian Dancer in Cléopâtre
inscribed à mon ami André Saglio
gouache and gold paint on paper

c1909 Costume design for Cléopâtre

1910 Costume design for Cléopâtre: Bacchante
pencil and watercolour, heightened with gold, on paper-fronted board 27.2 x 19.5 cm

1910 Costume design for a Greek Dancer in Cléopâtre

1910 Costume design for Cléopâtre: Le Petit Négrillon
pencil, watercolour and gouache, heightened with silver, on paper 28 x 21 cm

1910 Costume Design for Musician, for Cléopâtre
watercolour with graphite and metallic paint, on ivory laid paper, laid down on board 21.4 x 23.4 cm
Art Institute of Chicago, IL