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Primary sourcePainting1906

Anna Pavlova as Giselle

Alfred Eberling · 1906

A 1906 portrait painting by Alfred Eberling of Anna Pavlova in costume for the ballet Giselle, the role that earned her the rank of prima ballerina.

Painted the year Pavlova's Giselle earned her the rank of prima ballerina at the Mariinsky.

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Painting of a ballerina in a white tutu standing on one pointed foot on a stone ledge, hands pressed together near her chest, head tilted back, eyes closed, against a dark, misty woodland background.
Alfred Eberling, Anna Pavlova as Giselle, 1906. State Museum of Theatre and Music, St. Petersburg.

About this source

What it is

This painting by Alfred Eberling, made in 1906, shows Anna Pavlova as a ballerina in a white tutu, standing on pointe against a dark, misty woodland background. It is held by the State Museum of Theatre and Music in St. Petersburg.

Why it matters

The painting dates from the year Pavlova's performance in Giselle earned her the rank of prima ballerina at the Mariinsky Theatre, a major milestone in her career. It shows how artists of her time responded to her growing fame by capturing her signature roles on canvas.

Look closer

  • What does Pavlova's pose and expression suggest about the character of Giselle?
  • How does the misty background change the mood of the painting compared to a plain backdrop?
  • Why might the museum that holds this painting value it as part of theatre history, not just art history?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Anna Pavlova on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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