Lady with a Fan. Sketch of a Costume for the Ballet «Natural History» 1916

Curator: Here we have Mikhail Larionov’s “Lady with a Fan. Sketch of a Costume for the Ballet \u00abNatural History\u00bb” created around 1916. The piece appears to be mixed media, showcasing Larionov’s exploration of Rayonism, a style he pioneered. Editor: Wow, what a delightful burst of geometric joy! I see party hats and origami swans doing a jig. It's as if someone turned a kaleidoscope into a costume design. Curator: Absolutely, there’s a vibrant theatricality here. Given its intended use as a costume sketch, you can almost feel the movement and light reflecting off the dancer’s imagined attire. The choice of medium and bold color palette contributes to the dynamism, I would say. Editor: I’m so drawn to those fierce, almost defiant angles softened by frilly scalloped edges, though. It's like a robot going to tea! There’s something incredibly humorous about it, too, perhaps hinting at the satirical nature often embedded within ballet. Curator: It's intriguing to think about the labor involved in producing not just the sketch but also the physical costume it envisions, reflecting back on the division of artistic labor at the Ballets Russes. Furthermore, Larionov's engagement with the avant-garde highlights how traditional art boundaries were being questioned at the time. Editor: The overall impression isn’t so much ‘lady’ as deconstructed energy. It's exhilarating how form completely overtakes realistic representation. The materiality feels almost beside the point because the visual structure and line of abstraction becomes dominant, don’t you think? Curator: A perfect point. Larionov challenges us to look past representation and consider the pure aesthetic qualities of line, color, and form. He is creating something that celebrates industrial progress without imitating existing products. Editor: Well, I have to say this artwork truly does radiate light and mischievous charm! I think I will start creating clothes exclusively out of triangles and bold colors. Curator: I concur. Larionov's radical experiments challenge us to explore intersections between different modes of expression as a way of interrogating what art truly constitutes in our everyday experiences.