Christian Bérard
Magical French theater and fashion designer
Christian Bérard, also known as Bebè, was a French artist, fashion illustrator and designer. Bérard and his lover Boris Kochno, who worked for the Ballets Russes and was also co-founder of the Ballets des Champs-Elysées, were one of the most prominent openly homosexual couples in French theater during the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Paris in 1902, Bérard studied at the Lycée Janson de Sailly as a child. In 1920, he entered the Academie Ranson, where his style was influenced by Édouard Vuillard and Maurice Denis. Bérard showed his first exhibition in 1925, at the Gallery Pierre. From the start of his career he had an interest in theatrical scenery and costume designs, and played an important role in the development of theatrical design in the 1930s and 1940s. In the early 1930s Bérard worked with Jean-Michel Frank, painting screens, wood-work and drawing projects for carpets. He also worked as a fashion illustrator for Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Nina Ricci. Bérard's most renowned achievement was probably his lustrous, magical designs for Jean Cocteau's film La Belle et la Bête (1946). Bérard died suddenly from a heart attack on 11 February 1949, on the stage of the Théâtre Marigny. Francis Poulenc's Stabat Mater (1950) was composed in his memory, and Jean Cocteau dedicated his film Orphée (1950) to him.
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Influenced by
Artworks by this artist
- Juliette ou la Clef des songes – maquette de décor – façade de château avec escalier 1930
- La Nuit – maquette de décor – chambre 1930
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – femme en robe jaune 1943
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – planche de six costumes 1943
- Differents studies for portraits 1940's
- Phedre
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – Mercure 1947
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – robe jaune, cape rouge 1947
- Les Forains, ballet de Roland Petit – maquette de décor – la tente et les soeurs siamoises 1945
- Le Ciel 1938
- Dom Juan – maquette de décor – acte III, jardin 1947
- Les Bonnes – maquette de décor – planche – un décor, trois esquisses costumes bonne, portrait de Monsieur 1947
- Étude d’élégants et d’élégantes
- Mozartiana – maquette de décor – enfant pianiste près d’un flûtiste 1933
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – femme en tunique rose 1943
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – deux femmes, tunique jaune, tunique bleue 1943
- La Folle de Chaillot – maquette de décor – acte II, décor, vue d’ensemble, En haut à gauche, Constance descendant un escalier 1945
- La Jalousie du barbouillé 1941
- La Sylphide – maquette de costume – neuf sorcières 1946
- Renaud et Armide – maquette de décor – grotte avec quatre personnages 1943