The Firebird, Michel Fokine as tsarevitch 1910

Léon Bakst made this costume design for The Firebird, showing Michel Fokine as the tsarevitch, using watercolor and graphite. Look at how Bakst approaches color – wild oranges, pinks and purples all jostle for space. It's like he threw a bunch of different coloured shapes together and somehow, it all works! You can see how the composition is built up from many different marks – little dots and dashes all playing a part. Up close you can see the material qualities of this costume design. The colors aren't flat, they have texture and depth, built up layer by layer. See how the different patterns create a sense of movement and energy? It's not just about showing a costume, it's about capturing the spirit of the dance. My eye's drawn to the sleeve, bursting with detail, those tight coils of yellow and pink like spring flowers emerging from their buds. Bakst reminds me a bit of Matisse in his use of vibrant colors and bold patterns. They both create a sense of joy and exuberance, and neither is afraid to embrace the unexpected. But where Matisse stays pretty flat, Bakst uses shading to create an illusion of depth and form. Art isn't about answers, it's about conversations!