Fine Art M.S. Rau | Mah-Jongg By Erte

Erté (Romain De Tirtoff)
1892-1990 | Russian-French

Mah-Jongg


Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 363” (En Verso)

Gouache And Gold On Paper

Erté’S Artful Depiction In Gold, Brown, And Black And White Is Titled Mah-Jongg, Representing A Central Character In The Production Of The Same Name. This Performance Draws Inspiration From The Tile-Based Game That Originated In 19Th-Century China, A Game That Intricately Weaves Skill, Strategy And Luck And Garnered Global Popularity. In This Design, Erté Crafts An Imposing, Monumental Ensemble Evocative Of A Traditional Chinese Gate. The Character’S Face, Subtly Masked, Peers From Atop A Stately Column-Like Structure. Adorned With A Regal Black And Gold Headpiece, This Character Captivates With The Mysterious Charm Of A Stage Prop, Discreetly Biding Time, Only To Unveil Itself As An Integral Part Of The Ensemble, Poised For A Significant Role.

Russian-French Visionary Romain De Tirtoff (1892-1990), Popularly Known As Erté, Began His Artistic Journey In The Culturally Rich City Of St. Petersburg, Where He Developed An Early Fondness For Ballet And Theatrical Performances. He Moved To Paris In 1912 To Study Architecture, And Quickly Found His Creative Niche In Crafting Fantastical Costumes For The City’S Bustling Nightlife. Erté‘S Expertise, Refined Under The Guidance Of The Famed Paul Poiret, Captured The Attention Of Harper’S Bazaar, Marking The Beginning Of A Significant Partnership That Spanned From 1915 To 1936. The Artist Also Designed Sets For Notable Cinematic Masterpieces Including Ben Hur And La Bohème, And Created Sets And Costumes For Cabarets, Operas And Other Performances At The Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, The Théâtre Du Bataclan And Le Casino De Paris. Erté Was A Trailblazer Whose Colorful Creations Shaped The Groundbreaking Art Deco Era More Than Any Other, Leaving An Indelible Mark On The History Of Art And Design. His Artworks Reside In Prestigious Museum Collections Worldwide, Including The Metropolitan Museum Of Art In New York, The Victoria &Amp; Albert Museum In London And The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art.

Painted 1925

Paper: 15 1/8″ High X 10 3/8” Wide
Frame: 20 3/4″ High X 16 7/8″ Wide X 5/8″ Deep

Provenance:
Private Collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté And The Era Of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 – January 3, 2024