Stage Design For Le Coq D’or 1912

This is Konstantin Korovin's stage design for Le Coq D’or, and it’s like stepping into a dream made with paint and ink. Look how the colors aren't just sitting there; they're buzzing, mixing it up with these graphic black lines that dance all over the place. It's like he's making the stage itself a character in the opera. I’m drawn to the way Korovin uses this almost transparent wash of colour that lets the texture of the paper breathe. It gives the piece this airy, ephemeral quality, like a memory. There are areas where the paint is layered and blended, creating depth and volume, but overall, it's very open, raw and immediate. That open surface shows the hand of the artist. This reminds me of those set designs by Picasso for the Ballets Russes. It's art that’s alive, not just telling a story, but being the story. And just like any good story, it’s got layers and questions that don't always have answers.