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.
Relationship Network
Influenced by
Artworks by this artist (44 total)
- Les Bonnes – maquette de décor – planche – un décor, trois esquisses costumes bonne, portrait de Monsieur 1947
- Dom Juan – maquette de décor – acte III, jardin 1947
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de décor – structure avec escalier, acte 2 1943
- Dom Juan – maquette de décor – acte III, tombeau du Commandeur 1947
- Le Ciel 1938
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – femme en tunique rose 1943
- La Jalousie du barbouillé 1941
- The Meeting 1928
- La Nuit – maquette de décor – chambre 1930
- Les Fourberies de Scapin – maquette de costume – costume masculin et costume féminin 1949
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – robe jaune, cape rouge 1947
- Mozartiana – maquette de décor – enfant pianiste près d’un flûtiste 1933
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de décor – escalier longeant mur en ruine, podium avec draperie rouge 1943
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – robe jaune, cape blanche 1947
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – Mercure 1947
- Renaud et Armide – maquette de décor – grotte avec quatre personnages 1943
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – deux femmes, tunique jaune, tunique bleue 1943
- Cour de maison – maquette de décor
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – quatre études de costumes 1943
- Mozartiana – maquette de costume – couple dansant 1933