Le sacre du printemps 1917

Léon Bakst created this costume design for "Le Sacre du Printemps" with watercolor and pencil. Look closely, and you’ll see rows of figures emerging from what appear to be rays of light or perhaps spears, contrasted sharply with the blue, cloud-like forms to the left. The convergence of lines might be a stylized representation of life-force emanating from the earth, or an ancient invocation of divine energy. We can see echoes of similar motifs in ancient Egyptian art, where rays of light often symbolized the sun god Ra bestowing life upon the pharaohs. Consider, too, the emotional impact: the sharp, converging lines create a sense of forward thrust and intensity, engaging the viewer on a deeply subconscious level. Perhaps these repeated shapes are a visualization of primitive energy—the same energy that resonates in Stravinsky’s score. Through the artist's design, we observe the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly resurfacing with new meanings.