Born in Russia in 1866, Léon Bakst belonged to that young generation of European artists who rebelled against 19th century stage realism, which had become pedantic and literal, without imagination or theatricality. There were no specialist trained theatre designers, so painters like Léon Bakst turned their painting skills to theatre design. Bakst’s fame lay in the ballets he designed for the Diaghilev Ballets Russes, and huge pageant spectaculars for dancer and patron, Ida Rubinstein.
Biography of Léon Bakst
Overview of the life and work of revolutionary stage designer and artist, Leon Bakst. Born in Russia in 1866, Bakst belonged to that young generation of European artists wh…
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Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes
Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes 1909-1929, the work of the company and its cultural impact on 20th century design, choreography, music and art.
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The 20th-Century Ballet Revolution
20th century ballet was born in St Petersburg, from a group of artists who were disenchanted with the arts scene in Russia. They included the painters Léon Bakst and Alexan…
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