Princess Anfisa - Boris Kustodiev

A 1924 costume design by Boris Kustodiev, featuring a character in traditional Russian dress rendered in watercolour and ink.

This work is a costume design by Boris Kustodiev, created in 1924 for a theatrical production. Kustodiev, a member of the Mir Iskusstva (World of Art) group, frequently engaged with the aesthetics of Russian folklore and historical pageantry. The figure of Princess Anfisa is rendered with the characteristic clarity and decorative sensibility associated with his stage work.

The subject wears a stylised traditional Russian costume, featuring a kokoshnik-style crown and a voluminous skirt adorned with sun motifs. The palette relies on a combination of pale blue, gold, and red accents, which provide a sense of theatrical brightness against the plain background. Kustodiev employs fine ink lines to define the contours of the dress and the facial features, while watercolour washes provide soft shading and colour. The composition is frontal and static, typical of costume sketches intended to communicate the visual impact of a garment to a director or tailor.

Kustodiev was known for his interest in the provincial life of Russia and the colourful traditions of the merchant class. In his theatrical designs, he often exaggerated proportions and used bold, graphic elements to ensure the costumes remained legible from the back of a theatre. This piece captures the blend of historical reference and imaginative interpretation that defined his later career. The delicate handling of the veil and the precise placement of the jewellery demonstrate his technical proficiency in watercolour. As a document of early twentieth-century Russian stagecraft, this design offers a glimpse into the collaborative nature of theatre production during a period of significant cultural transition.