Print was painted by Randolph Schwabe in 1924.

Where can I see Print?

Print is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Print by Randolph Schwabe (1924) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Randolph Schwabe’s print captures a moment from Act V of Marius Petipa’s ballet *The Sleeping Princess*. Set beneath an elaborate arched pavilion that opens to the sky, the composition presents two rows of dancers executing a Mazurka, flanked by courtiers on one side and members of the royal family on the other.

Subject & Meaning

The scene juxtaposes the disciplined choreography of the ballet with the ceremonial presence of Princess Aurora, the Queen, the King, the Prince and their attendants. By placing the performers within a grand architectural frame, Schwabe highlights the ritualized elegance of courtly dance and its role in the narrative of the ballet.

Technique & Style

Executed in an uncoloured, line‑based manner, the print reflects the early‑1920s fascination with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Schwabe’s precise drawing emphasizes the intricate detailing of the arches, twisted columns and decorative motifs, while the arrangement of figures conveys movement within a static medium.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑1920s, the work was produced during a period when European artists were documenting the visual spectacle of the Ballets Russes. The print is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it serves as a record of both the ballet’s choreography and contemporary artistic interest in stage design.

Context

*The Sleeping Princess* was a popular production of the Ballets Russes, known for its lavish sets and intricate choreography. Schwabe’s depiction aligns with other contemporary prints that sought to preserve the transient performance arts of the era, translating stage spectacle into a permanent visual document.

Artist & collection

Artist

Randolph Schwabe

Randolph Schwabe made drypoint prints and pencil drawings in the 1920s. His prints show dancers like Enrico Cecchetti teaching and quiet portraits such as Stanislas Idzikowski. He worked in a straightforward, lined…