Foxtrot

Alexander Rodchenko

1935 · Gelatin silver print with applied color · Photographs

Between 1926 and 1932, in addition to his activities as a photographer, poster artist, and teacher, Rodchenko designed costumes and sets for both the theater and the cinema. This photograph is one of three prints that relate to his design commission for Leonid Obolenskii's film "Albidum" (1928). It was probably printed from a projection copy, or film positive, rather than from the original film negative, and its values are reversed, producing a negative print. The graphic impact of the reversal charges the dancers with a pulsing energy and allowed Rodchenko to apply color to the costumes which he had designed. The iridescent aura, in effect, returns the dynamic dance to "living color." "Foxtrot" was most likely printed in 1935 for the exhibition "Masters of Soviet Photography," which included Rumba, another negative print of dancers from "Albidum." [JLR; Waking Dream, pp. 356-357]

Artist

Alexander Rodchenko

Date

1935

Medium

Gelatin silver print with applied color

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gilman Collection, Purchase, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Gift, 2005