Biographical/historical: Alexandra Exter, 1882-1949, was a Ukrainian-born painter and designer active in Russia and France. In the course of developing her own artistic style, she took part in various avant-garde art movements, among them Futurism and Constructivism, and is considered a co-founder of the Art Deco movement, suggestions of which appear in this costume design. She designed sets and costumes for Alexander Tairov's Kamerny (Chamber) Theatre and for dancer-choreographer Bronislava Nijinska, the sister of Vaslav Nijinsky, in post-revolutionary Russia. In 1924 she and her husband moved to Paris, where she lived for the rest of her life.
