Deeply inspired by the Russian ballet, George Barbier began his career in 1913 illustrating books about the dancers of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes: Nijinsky and Karsavina. Like Erté, he is considered one of the founders of Art Deco. He also worked with great couturiers such as Worth, Lanvin and Poiret. He designed for many Parisian theatres as well as for cinema.