Stage design for Sleeping Beauty.
Stage design for Le Dieu Bleu.
Stage design for The Martyr of Saint Sebastian.
Stage design for Daphne et Chloe.
Stage design for Scheherazade.
Stage design for Scheherazade.
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In keeping with the Halloween spirit today's post contains costumes - the brilliant paintings and sketches of his costumes, by Leon Bakst. Also, as you can see, I've included Bakst's gorgeous stage designs.
There are pictures of some of the actual costumes below.
Artist Leon Bakst (1866 - 1924) was a painter and designer born in Russia in what is now Belarus. He was a memorable leading light in the new profession of theater design, most especially once he began his inspired collaboration with the great cultural impresario, Sergei Diaghilev of the famed Ballets Russe.
Bakst designed extraordinary sets and costumes for The Firebird, Sleeping Beauty, Daphne et Chloe, Scheherezade and many other ballets. Nijinsky wore Bakst's costumes in his most famous role, Afternoon Of A Faun.
Nijinksy
I've talked about Leon Bakst before, early on when I first began blogging. But this incredibly talented man's work is certainly worth another good look.
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From: The Bluebird
Costume from: The Bluebird.
Costume from: Le Dieu Bleu.
Who originally influenced who? There's such an incredible mixtue of elements - such a lively combo of styles, patterns and designs. Artists working during this very creative era couldn't help but influence each other. How could they not? Especially since several of them did do costume design. Even the young Picasso.
Bakst died in 1924 and Klimt in 1918, so they were working at around the same time. Matisse was working then too, though he didn't die until 1954. Raoul Dufy in 1953. Picasso, born in 1881, died in 1973,
Bakst, Matisse, Klimt, Dufy and others of the era and later, were certainly aware of each other's styles and techniques. Several of them knew each other. That alone is an influence.
All these brilliant artists breathing the dizzying air of creativity, of a new age, a vibrant new century. All, apparently, influenced by folk art traditions and 19th century Orientalism.
Is that how you see it? What do you think?
All costume and stage designs by Leon Bakst. Photos from various Google sources.
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