The Peri from ‘Peri’ 1911 - 1916

Curator: What a stunning display of controlled exuberance! Editor: Indeed. We're looking at "The Peri from 'Peri'", a watercolor and drawing by Léon Bakst, created between 1911 and 1916. Bakst, of course, was a hugely influential stage and costume designer for the Ballets Russes. Curator: The composition is dynamic yet meticulously balanced. The figure’s pose creates a series of intersecting diagonals, countered by the curvilinear flow of the drapery. Observe how the colour palette, while vibrant, remains subtly muted, creating a harmonious whole. Editor: And what a costume! "Peri", derived from Persian mythology, refers to a supernatural being, an almost angelic figure in some interpretations, and Bakst certainly leans into the exoticism, doesn't he? The headdress and patterned fabrics immediately conjure up a sense of Middle Eastern fantasy. The peacock feathers are powerful symbols in multiple cultures suggesting watchfulness and immortality. Curator: Precisely! The surface texture too is crucial. Note the contrast between the smoothly rendered skin and the richly patterned fabrics. Each motif, each line, serves to define form and enhance the overall visual impact. I find the chromatic scheme itself compelling and well balanced: that sienna and azure juxtaposition. Editor: It’s fascinating how Bakst synthesized different visual languages. We have elements of Art Nouveau here—that flowing, organic line—but also a clear engagement with orientalist tropes. He's presenting an idealized, romantic vision of the East. It feels so evocative of a dreamscape! One that perhaps speaks to the West's fascination and projections onto Eastern cultures. Curator: Without doubt a confluence of Western sensibility imbues with the rich symbology of the East. And again, one mustn’t ignore his use of line, which renders a delicate framework and holds up the colour with surprising ease, making it glow from within. It is, finally, the quality of light that triumphs in this work. Editor: Agreed. Bakst invites us into a world where symbolism and artistry intertwine to craft something both visually dazzling and richly suggestive. Curator: Yes, a masterclass in conveying depth through pure aesthetic means. Editor: A powerful encounter, indeed.