Projet de costume exécuté par Léon Bakst pour le ballet ‘Les papillons’ 1912

Léon Bakst created this costume design for the ballet ‘Les Papillons,’ using watercolor and pencil on paper. It’s a window into the world of the Ballets Russes, a Parisian phenomenon of the early 20th century that revolutionized dance and stage design. The image shows a female dancer in a vividly coloured dress, overlaid with a white lace veil and a boldly striped shawl. Bakst’s designs blended Russian folk art with orientalist fantasies, reflecting a wider European fascination with non-Western cultures. The Ballets Russes was a commercial enterprise, dependent on wealthy patrons and audiences. It also played a crucial role in shaping modern ideas about national identity, gender, and sexuality. Understanding this costume design requires us to consider the complex social dynamics of Belle Époque Paris. To do that, we might examine the archives of the Ballets Russes, contemporary reviews, and biographical material relating to its dancers, choreographers, and designers. Approaching art in this way reveals its profound connection to the institutions and structures of its time.