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
- Renaud et Armide – maquette de décor – arc de pierre avec deux personnes 1943
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – femme en tunique rose 1943
- Dom Juan – maquette de décor – acte III, le tombeau du Commandeur, vue générale et cinq détails 1947
- Dom Juan – maquette de décor – acte III, tombeau du Commandeur 1947
- La Jalousie du barbouillé 1941
- Differents studies for portraits 1940's
- Phedre
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – planche de six costumes 1943
- Sodome et Gomorrhe – maquette de costume – deux femmes, tunique jaune, tunique bleue 1943
- Amphitryon – maquette de costume – robe jaune, cape rouge 1947
- Juliette ou la Clef des songes – maquette de décor – tunnel, corps allongés et liés 1930
- La Folle de Chaillot – maquette de décor – acte II, décor, vue d’ensemble, En haut à gauche, Constance descendant un escalier 1945
- Les fourberies de Scapin – maquette de décor – rue avec venelles en escalier à droite et à gauche 1849
- Trois études de costume
- La Nuit 1930
- La Folle de Chaillot – maquette de costume – Joséphine, Aurélie, Constance 1945
- La Sylphide – maquette de costume – neuf sorcières 1946
- The Meeting 1928
- La Nuit – maquette de décor – chambre 1930