Male Actor in Ballet Costume 1665 - 1711

This drawing by Jean Berain, a renowned French designer of the late 17th century, depicts a male actor in a fantastical ballet costume. The costume is a testament to the elaborate and often extravagant fashion of the time, featuring a richly detailed armor-like bodice and a skirt adorned with numerous faces. This detailed costume design, created between 1665 and 1711, showcases Berain's mastery of theatrical costume design. The drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the world of 17th-century French theater and the artistic ingenuity of its costume designers.