Artist of Hungarian origins, Ladislaus Czettel, after studying at the Munich Art Academy and Max Reinhardt's School of Dramatic Art in Vienna, moved to Paris, where he was Bakst's only student (1918-20) and collaborator by Paul Poiret. He was chief designer of the Wiener Staatsoper (1920-32) and later, director of the costume department (1935-38), becoming one of the most appreciated designers for the theatre. In the same years he designed for Max Reinhardt's theaters in Vienna, Berlin and Salzburg, and created sumptuous costumes for the Folies Bergère and the Palace in Paris.