Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theater, Moscow, Russia

1954

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Associated Names
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Artist, French, 1908 - 2004

Magnum Photos

Publisher

This is a photograph of a stage with an ornate curtain and musical instruments. The image captures a theater stage, where a richly patterned curtain with geometric and vertical designs hangs as a backdrop. Several stringed instruments, such as cellos, are visible resting on their stands, accompanied by music stands in the foreground. The setting suggests a performance environment, possibly for ballet or classical music, but devoid of any performers or audience in this moment. The composition of the photograph highlights the relationship between the empty stage area and the preparation involved in setting up the orchestra pit.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Gary Davis

  • Dimensions

    image: 24.7 × 17.1 cm (9 3/4 × 6 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2013.145.3

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York); Gary Davis, Greenwich, CT, purchased 2002; gift to NGA, 2013.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, by unknown hand, lower left in blue pencil and underlined: *DANCING - BALLET; stamped, center, in blue ink: PLEASE CREDIT / HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON (Magnum) / Magnum Photos Inc. / 17 East 64th Street / New York 21, N. Y. / PHOTOS MUST NOT BE ALTERED BY TRIMMING; additional stamps from LIFE Magazine and other editorial and archival marks by unknown hand

Wikidata ID

Q64155012

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