Narcissus Update

Reader Archimandrill who recently helped to identify Charlotte Rollius as a German printmaker today send me  an interesting suggestion relating to the Narcissus/Adonis/Adam linocut print shown in September 10th posting.

He suggests there's possibly another mythical figur that could very well fit the young man in the print: the faun in the poem by Stephane Mallarmé (1842-1898): L'apres midi d'un faune. 

 Dancer Rudolf Nijinski inspired french Art Deco illustrator George Barbier (1882-1932) 

This poem inspired french composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) writing music. And the music inspired director Sergei Diagilev (1872-1929) producing a ballet in 1912 with his historic company "les Ballets Russes" (1909-1918) touring succesfully all Western theaters and concert halls. 

The stage designer Leon Bakst (1865-1924) created decors and costumes, Michel Fokine (1880-1942), the godfather of modern ballet, was the choreographer. 

Stage design for the Faun ballet by Leon Bakst 1912

Vaslav Nijinski (1889-1950) danced the faun (untill he stopped dancing suddenly in 1917) as did later Rudolf Nurejev (1938-1993) 

Nijinski as the faun (by Leon Bakst)  

Nurejev as the faun.

An interesting and very sharp suggestion Archimandrill, thank you very much!