Bakst: The Art of Theater and Dance

I have written several times that the golden age of Russian (1860-1920) included all branches of art including painting, music, literature and theater. Bakst was the leader in the revolution in set design and costuming. Dick Leon Bakst (1866-1924) was a painter, illustrator, stage designer and costume designer. He is universally acknowledged for representing a synthesis of creative energy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bakst travelled widely throughout Europe and in 1890 joined the World of Art journal circle which numbered many artists among its members. This book illustrates the wealth of Bakst's contribution to the world of the theatre and dance. His best known work includes sets for Stravinsky's Firebird, and Weber's Spectre de la Rose.

Born Lev Rosenberg in Belarus in 1866 to modest means, Leon Bakst was already an accomplished artist when he joined the creative circle around Sergei Diaghilev, impresario of the Ballets Russes. Bakst's bold, colorful set designs and exotic costumes became integral to Fokine's innovative choreography and forever changed ballet. Oriental exotica like Scheherezade, Cleopatre, and Thamar and daring ballets like L'Apres-midi d'un Faune are indelibly associated with Bakst, as are The Firebird, Le Spectre de la Rose, and The Sleeping Beauty. Nijinsky, Karsavina, Ida Rubinstein, and Pavlova wore costumes by Bakst in some of their most famous performances. Some of the ballets are still performed today using his costume and set designs. Mostly in color, the 170 illustrations found here vibrantly display Bakst's artistry.

Key value of this book is clear presentation of the unique unity of artists, critics, collectors and the common people is this golden age of the arts and the extraordinary designs of Bakst. Don’t over look this book.