the carnival estrella 1910 Leon Bakst

The drawing presents a solitary female figure in what appears to be a theatrical costume. She is positioned centrally within the composition, facing slightly towards the viewers left. The subject’s posture suggests a moment of quiet contemplation or perhaps a brief pause during a performance. Her right hand is raised near her face, as if adjusting an unseen element, while her left arm hangs loosely at her side.
The costume itself dominates the visual field. A vibrant blue bolero jacket with wide sleeves sits atop a voluminous skirt. The skirt’s lower portion is adorned with a pattern of regularly spaced dots, creating a rhythmic visual effect that draws the eye downwards. A contrasting white collar and decorative headpiece frame the face, drawing attention to her features which are partially obscured by dark fabric draped across her eyes. This obscuration lends an air of mystery and anonymity to the figure.
The artist’s use of color is striking; the intense blue contrasts sharply with the muted tones of the background and the white accents within the costume. The lines are fluid and expressive, suggesting a sketch or preparatory study rather than a finished work. Theres a deliberate simplicity in the rendering – details are suggested rather than meticulously rendered, which contributes to an overall sense of elegance and refinement.
The presence of handwritten notations along the top edge of the drawing indicates its function as a design or costume sketch. These markings likely contain information about materials, measurements, or other technical aspects related to the garment’s creation.
Subtextually, the work evokes themes of performance, disguise, and perhaps even melancholy. The obscured face hints at hidden identities and roles played within a theatrical context. The solitary figure suggests introspection and a sense of detachment from the surrounding environment. The elaborate costume implies a world of spectacle and artifice, while the overall mood is one of quiet dignity and restrained emotion.