Photographic plate

Physical description

Glass negative showing Pablo Picasso and scene painters sitting on the front cloth for the ballet Parade, 1917.

Place of Origin

Paris, France (photographed)

Date

1917 (photographed)

Artist/maker

Lachmann (photographer)

Materials and Techniques

Glass photographic negative

Object history note

This is one of a collection of 27 glass negatives of the ballet Parade, taken by the photographer Lachmann. Parade was first staged by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, in 1917. It had a libretto by Jean Cocteau, music by Erik Satie, and costumes and sets designed by Pablo Picasso. The choreographer, Léonide Massine, danced the role of the Chinese Conjuror.

Photographs of any Diaghilev ballets, especially from the post 1914 period are extremely rare, partly because, for all his promotional skills, Diaghilev did not ensure that regular or comprehensive photographic records were made. There are several negatives in this collection which have never been published or are very rarely seen.

Descriptive line

Glass negative by Lachmann showing Pablo Picasso and scene painters sitting on the front cloth for Léonide Massine's ballet Parade, Diaghilev Ballets Russes, 1917.

Categories

Entertainment & Leisure; Photographs

Collection code

T&P