[Image from "Prelude à l'Après-Midi d'un faune"]
In 1912 de Meyer made a remarkable series of photographs related to the Ballets Russes production L’après-midi d’un faune (Afternoon of a Faun). The avant-garde dance was choreographed by famed Russian performer Vaslav Nijinsky, set to a score by Claude Debussy, and inspired by a poem by Symbolist writer Stéphane Mallarmé. It follows a young faun distracted from his flute-playing by bathing nymphs who seduce and taunt him, leaving behind a scarf with which he allays his desire. When the ballet premiered in Paris on May 29, 1912, the overtly sexual climactic scene and unconventional choreography scandalized audiences. Nijinsky based the angular movements and frieze-like staging on Greek vase paintings, but Ballets Russes founder Sergei Diaghilev also likened them to Cubism.
Thirty of de Meyer’s photographs of the ballet were published as collotypes (photomechanical ink prints) in a 1914 edition of one thousand luxurious handcrafted books. Although made at the same time as the other photographs in the series on the ballet, this image of the nymphs was not included in the 1914 publication.
Thirty of de Meyer’s photographs of the ballet were published as collotypes (photomechanical ink prints) in a 1914 edition of one thousand luxurious handcrafted books. Although made at the same time as the other photographs in the series on the ballet, this image of the nymphs was not included in the 1914 publication.
Artwork Details
- Title: [Image from "Prelude à l'Après-Midi d'un faune"]
- Artist: Adolf de Meyer (American (born France), Paris 1868–1946 Los Angeles, California)
- Date: 1912
- Medium: Platinum print
- Dimensions: Image: 4 3/16 × 7 1/16 in. (10.6 × 17.9 cm)
Mount: 4 1/2 × 7 3/8 in. (11.5 × 18.8 cm) - Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Gilman Collection, Purchase, Mrs. Walter Annenberg and The Annenberg Foundation Gift, 2005
- Object Number: 2005.100.1302
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Adolf de Meyer
1930s
Adolf de Meyer
Adolf de Meyer
Adolf de Meyer
1914
Multiple artists/makers
1978
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.