Léon Bakst was a Russian painter and designer, best known for his work with the Ballets Russes. Bakst was born in Grodno, in present-day Belarus, and studied art in Saint Petersburg. In 1893, he traveled to Paris, where he met Sergei Diaghilev, who would later become the director of the Ballets Russes. Bakst designed sets and costumes for many of the company's productions, including "The Firebird," "Petrushka," and "The Rite of Spring." His designs were known for their vibrant colours and intricate patterns, which drew on a variety of sources including Russian folk art, Japanese prints, and Islamic art. Bakst also worked as a painter, creating portraits and landscapes in a style influenced by the Post-Impressionists. He died in Paris in 1924.