Artist: MIKHAIL LARIONOV (1881-1964)
Size: 10 7/8 x 8 3/4 in./27.7 x 22.3 cm
Condition: A-/ Restored tears at corners.
Printer:
Reference:

Grand Bal Travesti Trasmental. 1923.
In 1915, the avant-garde painter Mikhail Larionov and his lover Natalya Goncharova moved permanently from Russia into Western Europe, joining their friend Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes. While they worked on both costumes and sets while living in Paris, they also contributed to various artists’ balls, the Grand Bal Travesti Transmental on February 23, 1923 being the most ambitious. On the schedule were no less than four dance bands, two bars serving food and cocktails, and various artistic ‘happenings.’ The purpose of this wild all-night party was to philanthropically benefit the Union des Artistes Russes, a artists’ group which helped Russian émigré artists of all media, including Sonia Delaunay, Léopold Survage, and Zdanevich. This is just one of many promotional items for the ball which the two artists created, this one done mostly by Larionov. Amongst those present at the party were Fernand Léger, Survage, Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, and Albert Gleizes, all of whom designed a mask which would be auctioned off to benefit the Union. The heavy influence of African tribal symbolism present in these masks is reflected in the figure on the left side of this poster.