This striking 1972 original exhibition poster was created for the Hommage à Diaghilew held at the Musée Galliera in Paris, honoring the legendary Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes. The poster features an iconic costume design by Pablo Picasso for the avant-garde 1917 ballet Parade, one of the most revolutionary collaborations in 20th-century performance art.
The bold, graphic composition showcases Picasso’s costume drawing of a surreal character in Parade, dressed in a vibrant red, yellow, black, and white ensemble—an eye-catching swirl of Cubist pattern, theater, and costume fantasy. The figure appears on a stark cream background, allowing the whimsical design to dominate. Clean, modernist typography announces the exhibition dates: June 23 to September 3, 1972.
Picasso’s involvement in Parade marked one of the earliest and most significant interactions between modernist art and ballet. Commissioned by Diaghilew and featuring music by Erik Satie and a scenario by Jean Cocteau, Parade broke theatrical boundaries and shocked audiences with its fusion of fine art, circus, and surrealist absurdity.
This poster not only celebrates Diaghilev’s visionary legacy in dance and theater but also highlights the creative synergy he fostered between artists, composers, and choreographers. As a collector’s item, it is a rare tribute to both the Ballets Russes and the enduring visual power of Picasso’s theatrical design.
A brilliant piece of design and history, this poster captures the spirit of artistic collaboration that defined Diaghilew’s world and immortalizes the legacy of Parade—a moment when modern art quite literally took to the stage.
Exhibition - Mode - Russia
Galliera museum, costume for parade 1917
Good condition
Sign up & benefit from discounts or exclusive offers.