Danseur Syrien par Léon Bakst 1910 - 1913

Léon Bakst made this design for a Syrian dancer's costume, likely with watercolor and gouache on paper. The overall effect is one of shimmering color and pattern, and you can almost feel the fabric rustling. Look at the way Bakst uses these graphic, almost stenciled shapes to build up the layers of the costume. It’s a beautiful example of how design can be about both surface and depth. In the sleeve, the small, repeated motifs create a sense of texture, while the broader strokes of color define the form and movement. There's a tension between flat pattern and implied volume, which keeps your eye moving across the surface. It makes me think a little of Sonia Delaunay's textile designs, with its bold colors and geometric shapes. Both artists were interested in how abstraction could be used to create a sense of dynamism and energy, in the applied arts. This piece really celebrates the joyous possibilities of art making.