Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Ethelbert White. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The dancers wear classic ballet costumes—a man in black with a checked vest, and a woman in a blue bodice with a white tutu.
This print captures a lively moment from the ballet *La Boutique Fantasque*. The scene shows an audience cheering on a dancing couple. The room has big windows, and outside you can see a river and houses.
It’s part of the Ballets Russes’ 1919 London show. The dancers wear classic ballet costumes—a man in black with a checked vest, and a woman in a blue bodice with a white tutu.
If you like this, look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This hand-coloured print depicts a lively scene from the ballet 'La Boutique Fantasque', capturing a moment of applause for a dancing couple surrounded by cheering onlookers.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates a performance within a performance: an audience gathered in a room with expansive windows overlooks a landscape, while internally, they cheer a couple dancing in formal attire—a man in black with a checked waistcoat and a woman in a blue bodice and white tutu.
Technique & Style
Executed as a hand-coloured print, the work combines the precision of printmaking with the vibrancy of manual colour addition, enhancing the scene's dynamism and the contrast between the indoor gathering and the outdoor landscape vista.
History & Provenance
The print documents a specific production by Serge Diaghilev's renowned Ballets Russes, first performed at London's Alhambra Theatre on June 5, 1919. It is inscribed 'Elthelbert White' and forms part of the Harry Beard Print Collection.
Context
Created in the context of early 20th-century ballet innovation, the print reflects the Ballets Russes' influence on modern dance and theatre. The depiction of a ballet performance mirrors the era's theatrical advancements.
Legacy
As part of the Harry Beard Collection, this print contributes to the historical record of Ballets Russes' productions, offering a visual glimpse into the ballet's 1919 London debut. For further insight into similar artworks, the Victoria and Albert Museum is a suggested resource.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ethelbert White was an English artist and wood engraver. He was an early member of the Society of Wood Engravers and a founding member of the English Wood Engraving Society in 1925. He also worked in oils and water…
