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LÈon Bakst (Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg), artist
Russian, 1866 - 1924
Costume design for Potiphar's wife in the ballet, La lÈgende de Joseph (The Legend of Joseph), 1914
Graphite, watercolor, and gold on laid paper
48.3 x 33 cm (sheet)
Theater and Dance Collection, gift of Mrs. Adolph B. Spreckels T&D1959.38

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Artist Credit: all

Artist Biography: Born Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg. Student at the Academy of St. Petersburg. Began calling himself LÈon Bakst (mother*s maiden name), in the late 1890s. Established himself in Moscow and adhered to the Russian academic tradition, taking his subjects from popular life. However, little by little he began to stray from the traditional, profoundly influenced by modern French art. A proponent of the new style in Russia, he founded the group "Mir Iskousstva" ("Artistic World"), but soon left Moscow and St. Petersburg for Paris (1893). Played a considerable role during the years preceding World War I as a costume decorator and designer for the famous Russian ballets directed by Serge de Diaghileff. A bold colorist, possessing a heightened sense of an art in service to rhythm and subject to variations in lighting, Bakst realized a bold and pleasing fusion of the elements of Russian popular art and the values of modern French art, influenced notably by Aubrey Beardsley, as well as by Greek vase painting and the Fauvism of Henri Matisse. Established legal residence in Paris in 1912.

Related Keywords
of Legend Joseph de légende La ballet the in wife Potiphar's for design Costume Spreckels B Adolph Mrs gift Asia Russia Drawing Study Fashion Dance Music Art Entertainment Theater paper laid gold watercolor Graphite shoes clog piece head Venice century sixteenth manner dress court stylized elaborate wearing figure female standing Léon Bakst Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg Bakst~ Russian 5131202114020077 A000352 T&D1959.38 AFGA