This sketch of Tamara Karsavina in the ballet Le Coq d'or is one of a series of preliminary drawings for illustrations which appeared in the periodical Commedia Illustre and in the programme for the ballet in 1914. They were also issued as a collection of prints. Both the illustrations and the prints have gold details added.

Diaghilev Ballets Russes Le Coq d'or also known choreographed by Fokine and decor by Natalia Goncharova was first premiered in Paris at Théâtre de l'Opéra on 24 May1914, 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.

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.