Russian Ballet

1919

Not on view

This artist’s book, published in 1919 by London’s politically and artistically radical bookshop Henderson’s (known as "the Bomb Shop"), was based on sketches Bomberg made in 1914. Like similar works by the Vorticists, a group Bomberg was affiliated with yet never formally a member of, these images, as well as other pieces made during this period, have an architectonic structure and aesthetic recalling both Cubism and Futurism, though they adhered to neither. Initially, the drawings were not linked to Russian ballet. Years later, however, in 1919, Bomberg connected the drawings with a London production he attended of La Boutique fantasque, with sets by André Derain, likely embellishing his compositions and making the palette more intense to reflect the influence of the Ballets Russes performance.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Russian Ballet
Artist: David Garshen Bomberg (British, Birmingham 1890–1957 London)
Date: 1919
Medium: Artist's book with text and six color lithographs
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Purchase, Leslie and Johanna Garfield Gift, Lila Acheson Wallace, Charles and Jessie Price, and David T Schiff Gifts, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, Dolores Valvidia Hurlburt Bequest, PECO Foundation and Friends of Drawings and Prints Gifts, and funds from various donors, 2019
Object Number: 2019.592.333
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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