Artwork
Narcisse
Narcisse is a print by Ethelbert White. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The print is titled Narcisse by Ethelbert White.
It was created in the second half of the 1920s and is based on a scene from Mikhail Fokine's ballet.
The ballet was designed by Leon Bakst and premiered by the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in 1911, which is an interesting fact about this print.
You can learn more about the artist who created this print, White, Ethelbert.
Overview
Narcisse is a print by Ethelbert White, created in the late 1920s, depicting a final scene from Mikhail Fokine's ballet of the same name, originally designed by Leon Bakst for the Diaghilev Ballets Russes' 1911 premiere.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures the transformation of Narcissus into a flower, witnessed by woodland creatures, conveying the ballet's culminating moment of metamorphosis.
Technique & Style
While specific technical details of this print are not provided, it is noted that coloured states exist (e.g., S.477-2000), and its creation aligns with Cyril Beaumont's meticulous approach to accuracy in ballet representation.
History & Provenance
Part of Cyril Beaumont's series of hand-coloured prints on Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, Narcisse's production details (start date, quantity) are undocumented, though it is listed among twenty-two similar works in Beaumont's catalogue.
Context
Created amidst a growing interest in Diaghilev's company around 1919, the print reflects Beaumont's broader efforts to document and interpret the ballet through various media, including booklets and plywood figures.
Legacy
As part of Beaumont's curated collection of ballet prints and related works, Narcisse contributes to the preserved visual legacy of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes and early 20th-century dance interpretation.
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…
