Not currently on display at the V&A

Petrushka

Woodcut
1912 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Woodcut by Valentine Gross showing two Nursemaids and a Groom in the fourth scene of Mikhail Fokine's ballet <i>Petrushka,</i> Diaghilev Ballets Russes dated 1912.

Diaghilev Ballets Russes Petrushka (also transliterated Petrouchka) was first premiered in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet on 13 June 1911, according to Diaghilev and The Golden Age of The Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, edited by Jane Pritchard, first published by V&A Publishing in 2010. This production is set in the carnival atmosphere of a pre-Lenten fair in 19th century St. Petersburg. Valentine Gross woodcut-style drawings of nursemaids dancing with coachmen or grooms at the fair were worked up for use in souvenir programmes and publications.

The sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Valentine Gross Archive contains research material and artwork, including sketches, studies, drawings, pastels and illustrations. Only the artwork materials have been catalogued with museum numbers and given item level descriptions found in the Search the Collections webpage.

Valentine Gross, a.k.a. Valentine Hugo, was a French art student in Paris in the 1910s. She became a ballet enthusiast, illustrator, researcher and painter. Valentine Gross witnessed annual seasons of Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris and made preminary sketches during performances and rehearsals between 1909 and 1914. She later worked them up into pencil or coloured drawings of various degrees of finish including illustrations and paintings.

Some of the sketches feature in the book Nijinsky on Stage by Richard Buckle, published in London by Studio Vista in 1971.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Petrushka
  • Petrouchka
Materials and techniques
Woodcut
Brief description
Woodcut by Valentine Gross showing two Nursemaids and a Groom in the fourth scene of Mikhail Fokine's ballet Petrushka, Diaghilev Ballets Russes dated 1912
Physical description
Woodcut on pink paper showing two Nursemaids and a Groom in the ballet Petrushka. The nursemaids are dancing with their arms around one another's waists and their plaits flying out, each waving a handkerchief in her free hand. They wear decorative full skirts, aprons, jackets and necklaces, and kokoshniks on their heads. To their right is a groom in hat, long waistcoat, peasant blouse, breeches and boots. His right foot is extended, heel to the ground, his left arm is on his waist in a position suggestive of dance. Beneath the image, reversed out, it reads VG PETROUCHKA 1912.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21.5cm
  • Width: 31cm
Marks and inscriptions
'VG PETROUCHKA 1912'. (The artists initials V[alentine] G[ross], the title of the ballet and date of the woodcut are reversed out in a box beneath the image.)
Credit line
Given by Jean Hugo
Summary
Woodcut by Valentine Gross showing two Nursemaids and a Groom in the fourth scene of Mikhail Fokine's ballet <i>Petrushka,</i> Diaghilev Ballets Russes dated 1912.

Diaghilev Ballets Russes Petrushka (also transliterated Petrouchka) was first premiered in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet on 13 June 1911, according to Diaghilev and The Golden Age of The Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, edited by Jane Pritchard, first published by V&A Publishing in 2010. This production is set in the carnival atmosphere of a pre-Lenten fair in 19th century St. Petersburg. Valentine Gross woodcut-style drawings of nursemaids dancing with coachmen or grooms at the fair were worked up for use in souvenir programmes and publications.

The sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Valentine Gross Archive contains research material and artwork, including sketches, studies, drawings, pastels and illustrations. Only the artwork materials have been catalogued with museum numbers and given item level descriptions found in the Search the Collections webpage.

Valentine Gross, a.k.a. Valentine Hugo, was a French art student in Paris in the 1910s. She became a ballet enthusiast, illustrator, researcher and painter. Valentine Gross witnessed annual seasons of Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris and made preminary sketches during performances and rehearsals between 1909 and 1914. She later worked them up into pencil or coloured drawings of various degrees of finish including illustrations and paintings.

Some of the sketches feature in the book Nijinsky on Stage by Richard Buckle, published in London by Studio Vista in 1971.
Associated object
THM/165 (Archive record)
Other number
THM/165 - Archive number
Collection
Accession number
S.2308-2009

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Record createdFebruary 12, 2010
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