DIAGHILEV AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BALLETS RUSSES, 1909-1929

Visits to Diaghilev at the V&A Around 1900 artists and designers became fascinated with exotic themes. This can be seen in clothes by Poiret, and in paintings by Picasso. One of the most important influences was Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, which employed Picasso, Poiret, Chanel and many other important designers. This session will include an overview of the design movement and a visit to the V&A Diaghilev exhibition.  Serge Pavlovich Diaghilev was an impresario and the best of his era, a visionary in the dramatic arts and what we would call ahead of his time. He had visions of modernity and hired those who sheared that vision. He brought the arts together hiring the composers, artists and chorographers in a collaborative project where they made imagination a reality. We are told “nothing was costume it was all real” the experience of his shows were moving and still influences the arts today. The inspiration for these productions came from all over the world.  indian influence   Fashion inspired by the ballet russes Here are some drawimgs of the costumes which i found really interesting:   ‘Culture is a sort of theatre where various political and ideological causes engage one another’ Edward SaÏd, 1978 ‘Orientalism is not a picture of the East or the Easts. It represents longing, option, and faraway perfection’ - Richard Martin, 1995 The influences of Asia on european culture was very significant during the 1900 the quotes from artists during and after this period  confirm the influence which countries like China and Japan had within design and art was major.  Orientalisms, 1750-1920 Design                                                                                                                         Life 1761                 George III builds `Chinese Pagoda’ and `Turkish Mosque’ at Kew                         Napoleon’s army invades Egypt and brings back antiquities                    1798 1815                 Royal Pavilion at Brighton decorated in Chinoiserie style                         Britain defeats China in Opium War, forces new trade terms                    1842                         American Navy forces Japan to open up after 200 years             1854 1862                 Japanese works shown at International Exhibition, London 1867                 Manet paints portrait of Zola with Japanese art 1875                 Liberty opens shop, East India House, selling oriental silks 1876                 Whistler works on decoration of `Peacock Room' 1877                 E W Godwin designs `Japanese' furniture for W Watt & Co 1885                 ‘The Mikado’ by Gilbert and Sullivan 1887                 Vincent van Gogh exhibits his own collection of Japanese prints 1891                 Book on Utamaro, Japanese printmaker, in French, sells 25,000 1904                 Premiere of ‘Madame Butterfly’ by Puccini 1906                 Poiret sets up as an independent designer 1909                 Poiret shows clothes with Oriental influence, including trousers 1909                 Diaghilev puts on `Cleopatra' and `Prince Igor' in Paris 1910                 Diaghilev puts on `Scheherezade' and `Firebird' in Paris 1911                 Poiret stages Oriental fancy-dress party, `1002nd Night’ 1913                 Premiere of `Rite of Spring'; Nijinsky leaves Diaghilev                         World War I                                                                               1914-19                         Russian Revolution, followed by civil war                                   1917                         Chinese Civil War (Emperor deposed, 1912)                               1919-28 Web Pages: http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/british_galls/styles/index.html `Encounters’ exhibition guide http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1196_encounters/index.html Christopher Dresser http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1324_dresser Tate Britain exhibition, ‚The Lure of the East: British Orientalist  Painting’ http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/britishorientalistpainting/default.shtm