The artwork “Sketches of costumes for ‘Tale of Tsar Saltan’” is a design piece by Nicholas Roerich created in 1919. Associated with the Art Nouveau (Modern) art movement, this work reflects Roerich’s design capabilities and serves as a conceptual visualization for theatrical costumes. The genre of this piece is design, implying its practical and aesthetic considerations in the staging of a performance.
The artwork displays a solitary figure, cloaked in a period costume that suggests a folkloric setting. The individual appears to be wearing a long, warm-toned robe or dress with rich textural details, which gives a sense of tactile material. The dress is accented with green details that lead the eye to the front, where the hands of the figure gently clasp a draped fabric or object. Over the dress, the figure wears a cape or shawl that extends over the shoulders and frames the face with its lighter color, drawing attention to the round, blush-toned face with softly depicted features. The figure’s feet emerge at the bottom of the robe, clad in what appears to be simple, soft footwear, perhaps illustrative of the character’s station or role within the narrative of “Tale of Tsar Saltan.”
The background is in stark contrast to the figure, being a dark, almost pitch-black canvas that both accentuates the color palette of the costume and enhances the contemplative mood of the depiction. The choice of colors, the layering of garments, and the overall silhouette provide valuable insights into the time period and cultural context intended for the theatrical production. This piece stands as a testament to Roerich’s skill in incorporating artistic flair into functional designs for the stage, contributing to the visual storytelling of the performance.
