c. 1930’s
Paul Cadmus Collection stamp in black ink, verso; Jon Anderson Collection stamp in black ink, verso
Vintage gelatin silver print
9.5 x 7.625 inches
$3,000
Tamara Toumanova was a Georgian-American prima ballerina. A child of exiles in Paris after the Russian Revolution of 1917, she made her debut at the age of 10 at the children’s ballet of the Paris Opera.
She became known internationally as one of the Baby Ballerinas of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo after being discovered by her fellow émigré, balletmaster and choreographer George Balanchine. She was featured in numerous ballets in Europe. Balanchine also featured her in his productions at Ballet Theatre, New York, making her the star of his performances in the United States. She became a naturalized US citizen in 1943 in Los Angeles, California.
Toumanova also appeared as a ballerina in many films beginning in 1944.
Work by George Platt Lynes (1907-1955)