Costume design for the ballet "Cleopatra" 1909

Léon Bakst designed this costume for the ballet "Cleopatra," using pencil and watercolor to capture a sense of fluid movement. You can almost feel the dancer twirling. Look at the way Bakst renders the fabrics; the orange skirt with its spotted pattern flows like water, while the red shawl seems to billow and swirl. The effect is achieved through the delicate use of watercolor washes, allowing the pigment to pool and blend organically on the paper. The pencil work underneath provides definition and structure, like the bones beneath skin. Consider how the artist captures the dancer’s pose, arms outstretched, one foot lifted. The costume design is dynamic, suggesting a body in motion, even on a static surface. It's like a snapshot of a dance, full of energy and life. The movement is all, perhaps a little like Rodin's drawings, though more sensual and less academic. This is not just a costume; it's a feeling!