Mondays, November 2 – November 23, 6 – 8pm
Léon Bakst. Program for Le Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune (detail), 1912
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
The Ballets Russes brought together leading artists, composers, dancers, and designers of the 20th century, transforming theatrical performances into a collaborative modern art form.
In this four-session online course, we’ll discover how Russian entrepreneur Sergei Diaghilev fostered groundbreaking collaborations among creative luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Coco Chanel, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Jean Cocteau. The result was an artistic revolution that elevated ballet into modernist art.
Through musical performances, ballet videos, and discussions of paintings, costumes, and archival materials, we’ll consider how productions like Firebird, Petrouchka, The Rite of Spring, and Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun challenged audiences and reshaped modern culture in Europe and the United States.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
Already registered? Log in to Barnes Learning.
- Sharpen your observational and critical-thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Instructor
Mimi Stillman
An acclaimed flutist, Stillman is an internationally recognized solo, chamber, and recording artist who the New York Times has called “not only a consummate and charismatic performer, but also a scholar. Her programs tend to activate ear, heart, and brain.” She is the founding artistic director of the Dolce Suono Ensemble. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music with an MA in history from the University of Pennsylvania, she also writes about music and history, with a focus on late 19th- and early 20th-century French culture.
What Students Are Saying
“Joe Tokumasu Field was a wonderful instructor. He’s patient, caring, and skilled at interacting with students’ questions and comments.” —The Japanese American Century with Joseph Tokumasu Field
“This was an exciting course with fascinating and informative lectures and well-chosen pictures. Franits is a brilliant teacher.” —17th-Century Dutch Art’s “Holy Trinity”: Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer with Wayne Franits
“The instructor was outstanding in every way—an expert in the subject, enthusiastic about the material, solicitous and supportive of students’ observations, and brilliant in expanding our discussion as warranted. The best Barnes instructor I’ve had, by far.” —The Nabis: Late 19th-Century Prophets of the New with Larissa Bailiff
“I enjoyed the course very much and liked how each week focused on a different topic relevant to the subject. Caterina is an engaging speaker, and you can tell she loves what she is teaching. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor come through.” —Famous Heists: Crimes in the History of Art with Caterina Pierre
“I felt at peace afterward and appreciated the art so much more than before.” —Being Present with Art: Cultivating Balance for Spring with Roksana Filipowska
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Demuth’s Piano Mover’s Holiday
Using a meditative approach, this hour-long session offers an in-depth look at Demuth’s precise technique. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell
Close-Looking Immersion: Vieira da Silva’s The Domestic Symphony
Using a meditative approach, this hour-long session offers an in-depth look at Vieira da Silva’s masterful composition. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Japonisme in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art
Learn how Japanese art transformed modern painting in this online workshop. Instructor: Larissa Bailiff