Fine Art M.S. Rau | Robe D’Apres-Midi By Erte

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

Robe D’Après-Midi (Tea Gown)

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 569 / Robe D’Après-Midi / Composition Originale” (En Verso)
Ink On Paper

Erté Designed This Luxurious Afternoon Tea Gown In January 1922 For The Renowned Magazine Harper’S Bazaar. His Elegant Designs Graced The Pages Of The Magazine From 1916 To 1937 And Transformed Fashion Illustration Into A Form Of Visual Storytelling That Transcended Mere Representation. His Success At Harper’S Bazaar, Along With Other Fashion Publications Like Femina, Heavily Contributed To The Popularization Of Art Deco Aesthetics And The Glamorous Image Of The Era.

Fashion Underwent A Radical Transformation In The Art Deco Period. The Designs Of Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, And Jean Patou, Characterized By Their Boldness And Modernity, Redefined Feminine Style. The Couture Houses Of The Avenue Montaigne And Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré Set Global Trends, Making Paris The Undisputed Capital Of Fashion. High Society Flocked To Opulent Parties And Balls, With The City’S Elite Showcasing The Latest Haute Couture Creations. Erté’S Sartorial Masterpieces Found Acclaim Among Many Fashionistas And Socialites, Who Often Viewed His Designs Like Robe D’Après-Midi In Publications.

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 1922

Paper: 11 1/2″ High X 8 1/2″ Wide
Frame: 19 1/8″ High X 16″ Wide X 5/8″ Deep

Provenance:
Private Collection Of Roland Petit And Zizi Jeanmaire, Paris
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