Fine Art M.S. Rau | Princesse D’Asie By Erte

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

Princesse D’Asie

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Watercolor And Ink On Paper

Erté Reinvigorated The Orientalist Imagery Of 19Th-Century Academic Art, Offering Indulgent Glimpses Of East Asian Fashion And Bijouterie Through A New Modern Lens. The Artist Employs A Bold Palette Of Crimson Red And Black To Render The Woman’S Floor-Length Gown And Feathered Fan. Erté Imbues Princesse D’Asie With An Implicit Eroticism And Allure Through The Woman’S Elongated Form, Heavy-Lidded Gaze And Bejeweled Neckline.

Paris Witnessed A Remarkable Cultural Synthesis During The Art Deco Period, And Orientalism Played A Significant Role In Shaping The City’S Artistic And Intellectual Milieu. At The Same 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale Des Arts Décoratifs Et Industriels Modernes, Often Considered The Naissance Of The Art Deco Style, Many Artisans Prominently Showcases Eastern-Inspired Designs And A Growing Appreciation For Non-Western Aesthetics. Depictions Of Figures Like Princesse D’Asie Melded Orientalist Aesthetics Into Paris’ Artistic Output In A New Way.

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. Often Remembered As The “Father Of Art Deco,” 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 1935

Paper: 14” High X 9 1/2” Wide
Frame: 20 3/4” High By 16 7/8” Wide By 5/8″ Deep

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

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