Costume Design 1915

Mikhail Larionov created this costume design with paint on paper, likely during his time with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Larionov sought to challenge conventions. How can a painter make a body move through space? And how can the traditions of Russian folk art and design be channeled into avant-garde performance? Diaghilev had a reputation for bringing together artists from different countries and disciplines. Larionov worked alongside dancers, composers, and fellow visual artists to create multi-sensory spectacles. Together they aimed to create a total work of art, a Gesamtkunstwerk. These costumes were undoubtedly designed with movement in mind, and the use of bright colors, geometric shapes, and varying textures create a sense of depth and dynamism. We can deepen our understanding of Larionov’s process by looking into the archives of the Ballets Russes. What was the critical reaction to these designs? How did audiences respond? What can this legacy tell us about the public role of art?