First Bacchante of 'Narcissus'
1911
Léon Bakst captures the wild, ecstatic energy of a Bacchante—a female follower of the god of wine—in this vibrant costume design for the 1911 production of 'Narcisse'. The figure whirls in a frenzy of red and purple fabric, her hair flying like flames as she clutches a patterned scarf. As a key designer for the Ballets Russes, Bakst shocked Parisian audiences with these bold colors and exotic patterns, helping to define the Art Nouveau aesthetic on stage and influencing fashion designers like Paul Poiret. The geometric border frames this explosion of movement perfectly.
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