La legende de Joseph Potiphar 1914

Léon Bakst made this costume design, La légende de Joseph, with watercolor, gouache, and charcoal on paper. The design process is very obvious; you can see all the lines, and it’s like Bakst is showing us how to construct the whole figure in our minds. I love the flatness of the image and how it is not trying to be anything other than lines on paper. I am especially drawn to the headpiece—the way the gold is put together, and the crown shape looks so ornamental and majestic. Bakst may have used washes for the colour, and you can see some of the charcoal lines underneath the layers of paint. This makes me feel like it's a very lively and playful piece. The combination of materials gives it a textured surface that feels both rich and raw. The bright reds and golds used in this piece remind me of Klimt's ornamental style and the way he used gold leaf to create a sense of opulence. Just like Klimt, Bakst understood the importance of beauty. They understood how it can transport us to another world and give us a sense of wonder.