Serge Lifar, The Genius of the Dance 1935

Violet Keene Perinchief made this photograph of Serge Lifar, entitled The Genius of Dance, using a camera and darkroom techniques. Photography, though now ubiquitous, was once seen as a mechanized process, distinct from the hand skills of painting or sculpture. Yet, the tonal range and careful composition achieved here—the dramatic lighting and the dancer’s graceful pose—reveal Perinchief's artistry. The smooth, almost velvety surface of the print invites close inspection, urging us to appreciate the craft involved in capturing and developing the image. Consider, too, the social context. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider public. But it also created new forms of celebrity and spectatorship, as figures like Lifar were captured and disseminated as images. Looking closely at the photograph, we can challenge traditional hierarchies of art and craft, recognizing the skill and vision required to transform light and shadow into a lasting work of art.