Image depicted is of a ballet performance of Elena Smirnova and Anatoly Obukhov at the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg. Since the two fled Russia with a group of other artists in 1920, the image was made prior to 1920. [1], [2]. Smirnova and her husband established the The Russian Theater in 1921 and it was renamed as the Russisches Romantisches Theater in 1922, when they found a backer, who paid for their expenses and publicity. By 1924 the company was having financial difficulties and the company size was minimized to eliminate cost. In 1925, Smirnova had a health crisis and a serious operation, from which she did not recover until after the couple had removed to Argentina.They were bankrupt by 1926. [3], [4] The cancellation mark of the postcard shows it was mailed in 1925, after Smirnova was no longer dancing, and clearly indicates that it would have been published before that time, as one would not publicize a performer who was unable to dance. [5]

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This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. Public domain works must be out of copyright in both the United States and in the source country of the work in order to be hosted on the Commons. If the work is not a U.S. work, the file must have an additional copyright tag indicating the copyright status in the source country. Note: This tag should not be used for sound recordings.PD-1923Public domain in the United States//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elena_Smirnowa_and_Anatolij_Obouchoff_(Elena_Smirnova_and_Anatoly_Obukhov).jpg