Artwork
Jardin aux lilas
Jardin aux lilas is a photographic photography by Angus McBean. It dates from 1938 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photo shows a 1938 stage moment from *Jardin aux lilas*. Four dancers pose in costume: Hugh Laing, Peggy van Praagh, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille. The shot captures a ballet moment frozen on film.
The photo links two years of the same ballet. Tudor choreographed the first version in 1936, then restaged it in 1938.
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Overview
Jardin aux lilas is a 1938 photograph by Angus McBean capturing a pivotal stage moment from Antony Tudor's ballet of the same name. The image features four prominent dancers in character: Hugh Laing, Peggy van Praagh, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts a specific narrative instant from Jardin aux lilas (Lilac Garden), conveying the ballet's thematic focus through the poses and interactions of the four dancers, each embodying distinct characters within the storyline.
Technique & Style
McBean's photograph employs a static, posed approach to capture the dynamic ballet scene, characteristic of mid-20th-century dance photography. The image's clarity and composition highlight the dancers' expressions and bodily language.
History & Provenance
Originally choreographed by Tudor in 1936 for the Ballet Club, Jardin aux lilas was restaged in 1938 for Dance Theatre with Agnes de Mille's involvement. This photograph documents the 1938 production.
Context
Part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, this photograph is contextualized within the museum's extensive holdings of British ballet history, reflecting the intersection of dance, photography, and theatrical arts in the late 1930s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Angus Rowland McBean was a Welsh photographer, set designer and cult figure associated with surrealism.
