Lot Essay
Valentina Khodasevich (1894-1970) studied in Moscow, Munich and Paris between 1907-1912. Khodasevich closely collaborated with Vladimir Tatlin and exhibited with the World of Art and Jack of Diamonds groups. She moved to St Petersburg and became one of the most important stage design artists working at the Kirov Theatre. From 1924, she travelled throughout Europe, living in Stockholm, Paris, London and Rome. In 1925, while staying at Maxim Gorky's residence in Sorrento, she received a commission from the Pirandello theatre in Rome for the stage design of Lucrezia and later, from the T. Pavlova theatre in Milan, for Psisha.