Artwork
Les Tentations de la Bergère
Les Tentations de la Bergère is a photographic photography by S. Georges. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The ballet’s choreography was by Bronislava Nijinska, set to music by Michel de Montéclair.
This signed photograph shows a dancer from a famous ballet.
It was taken in 1925 for a London production by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.
The ballet premiered in Monte Carlo in 1924, but this photo was signed a year later.
The dancer Vera Nemchinova poses in the role of Les Tentations de la Bergère.
The ballet’s choreography was by Bronislava Nijinska, set to music by Michel de Montéclair.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
This signed photographic print captures Vera Nemchinova in costume for the ballet Les Tentations de la Bergère. The image was produced in 1925 for the London staging of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Coliseum. It documents a moment from a work that originally opened in Monte‑Carlo in early 1924, offering a visual record of the dancer’s pose and the production’s aesthetic.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph presents Nemchinova embodying the titular shepherdess, a figure central to the ballet’s narrative of temptation and pastoral innocence. The composition emphasizes her poised stance and expressive gesture, reflecting the choreographic intent to convey both allure and restraint within the mythic setting of the work.
Technique & Style
Printed as a black‑and‑white photograph, the image employs chiaroscuro lighting to accentuate the dancer’s silhouette against a muted backdrop. The sharp focus on costume details and the subtle gradations of tone illustrate the photographic practices of the mid‑1920s, aimed at preserving the theatrical atmosphere for archival and promotional purposes.
History & Provenance
Originally created for the 1925 London production of Les Tentations de la Bergère, the print bears the artist’s signature, confirming its authenticity. The ballet, choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and set to Michel de Montéclair’s music, debuted in Monte‑Carlo in January 1924 before touring to London, where this photograph was issued.
Context
The work belongs to the period when Diaghirev’s Ballets Russes was redefining modern ballet through collaborations with avant‑garde choreographers, composers, and designers. Nijinska’s choreography for this piece reflects her departure from traditional narrative forms, while the photograph serves as a visual testament to the company’s innovative stagecraft during the early 1920s.
Artist & collection
Artist
French illustrator S. Georges focused on fashion and fantasy scenes in the early 20th century. In *Les Tentations de la Bergère* (1925), a dreamy shepherdess in lace and pearls leans into a pastoral scene that feels…
