Sketch by Valentine Gross showing studies of Vaslav Nijinsky as Albrecht in Giselle presented by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris in 1910. This image of Nijinsky s very similar to photographs taken by Auguste Bert/L.Roosen in 1910.

Giselle was presented by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with Vaslav Nijinsky as Albrecht and Tamara Karsavina in the title role on 17/18 June 1910 at the Teatre National de l'Opera, Paris. The ballet with scenery and cosumes by Alexandre Benois in a production Mikhail Fokine based on the ninettenth century work by was rarely performed by the Ballets Russes and last seen in Monte Carlo 29 May 1914. Diaghilev was, however planning to revive Giselle in his 1929-30 season.

The sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&A. 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 Explore the Collections webpage.

Valentine Gross, later 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, but not this one, feature in the book Nijinsky on Stage by Richard Buckle, published in London by Studio Vista in 1971.