Bakst, Léon

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Léon Bakst (1866 - 1924)

LéB

Photo-lithographic reproduction plate from a very rare edition book on the life of Léon Bakst, the Russian artist-designer associated with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. This character, a faun, is from the ballet “Narcisse” probably the most extravagant production in costumes and performance. See the accompanying biographies book for more details about Bakst and his costumes and stage designs.

A pearl found among a pile of prints in an old graphics collection being slowly dissolved.

Know thy classics ………………

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Diaghilev produced three Grecian ballets: Daphnis and Chloe (1912), L’après-midi d’un faun (1912) and Narcisse.

André Yacovlev Levinson (St. Petersburg 01-11-1887 - 03-12-1933 Paris ) fled Russia in 1918 and became a French journalist and wrote “The story of Léon Bakst”, which saw limited first editions in France, England America etc…. (Today they fetch 2000-4000€ in auction). The book is iconic for its prized many great quality colour chromo/photo-lithographic reproductions of Bakst’s original custome and stage designs.

Above Bakst’ stage design for Narcisse and below some costume designs, chromolithographic reproduction plates from the book.

A - Z

gerbrandcaspers@icloud.com

Dear print lover, passing-by visitor and reader:

While this new gallery-museum site is under construction (being build-up, stocked and arranged) priority must be given to first add all the represented artists in the index with works from the collection and if possible with the examples from the archives.

During construction the site is open to visitors, questions, feedback and suggestions.

Gerrie

gerbrandcaspers@icloud.com

Read more about the artists, their lives, families and careers in the new and extensive Artist Lexicon: “DAS HAUS DER FRAU, the short biographies” accompanying this exhibition.

Hundreds of new artist biographies, a private publication in 2 Volumes written conveniently in English.

Visit the Shop for more info.

Dr. Richard Ehrlich (b. 1885 – before 1956)

Natural scientist-zoologist, illustrator, bookplate, graphic artist artist and printmaker. “Dr. rer. nat” and “Dr. phil.” (Dr. of natural science, Dr. of philosophy). Said to have been born in Berlin but also said to be from Austrian descent. Worked in Vienna (1915) and Munich. He iIllustrated the scientific and popular works* (also the English translated editions) of zoologist and ethologist (study of animal behaviour) professor and Nobelprice winner** (physiology-medicine) Karl “Ritter” von Frisch (1886-1982) son of surgeon and urologist Anton von Frisch (1849-1917).

* “Zehn kleine Hausgenossen” 1955, “Ten little housemates (1960), “Zwölf kleine Hausgenossen” (1976), “Twelve little housemates” (1978), describing common house bugs (flies, fleas etc…). Illustrations also by Walt(h)er Soellner.

** In 1973, aged 87, with Nico Tinbergen (1907-1988) and Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989) for his life long studies into the behaviour of bees.

Known from from a bookplate created for historian prof. Dr. Wolfgang von Franqué son of Prag gynaecologist Otto von Franqué (1867-1937). Also known from etchings and colour woodblock prints. A color woodblock print of a titmouse is created in the style of Martin Erich Philipp. Married 1929 Magdala Matern (? – after 1956), painter and like her husband “Gebrauchsgraphikerin”. Known graphically by one colour etching of a small village square.

Dresslers KHB 1930: both living Munich, Giselastrasse 6. Member RvbK.

Walter Kaupert: “Internationales Kunst-Adressbuch” edition 1956: “Magd.(ala) Ehrlich-Matern”, Munchen 13, Ainmillerstrasse.