Brassaï (1899-1984) ~ Les demoiselles de la nuit (*). Ballet de Paris, 1949. Ferrotyped gelatin silver print | src Christie’s
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(*) Ballet in one act with choreography by Roland Petit, libretto by Jean Anouilh, scenery & costume design (including the ballet's cat masks) by Leonor Fini. It tells the story of a musician who falls in love with his beautiful cat Agathe, who has assumed semi-human form. Agathe tries to be faithful to her human lover but is lured away by the sound of tomcats and the call of freedom. She leaps off the rooftops and the musician falls to his death as he tries to grab hold of her. She falls after him and they are united in death. | src The Oxford Dictionary of Dance
Kate Strong photographed at a costume ball in 1883. What does she arrive in? None other than a full cat costume - featuring a ‘puss’ choker, and a real taxidermy cat atop her head. As a matter of fact the entire costume was made out of cats, the bodice, and the overskirt too.
Source: hatchingcatnyc.com, collections.mcny.org, The New York Times.”