Fine Art M.S. Rau | Collection De Minuit Boy By Erte

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

Collection De Minuit Boy (Midnight Collection, Boy)

Signed “Erté”(Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 17.742” (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

This Enthralling Gouache On Paper Unveils An Ensemble Conceived For A Cabaret Performance, Encapsulating Erté’S Quintessential Art Deco Refinement. Titled Collection De Minuit BoyOr Midnight Collection, Boy, The Central Figure Is Dressed In A White Leotard, Embellished With Circular Motifs In Shades Of Light And Royal Blue. The Garment’S Sleeves And Cape, Avant-Garde In Design, Feature A Double Helix Structure That Seems To Ascend Towards The Heavens. The Torso Is Further Accentuated By A Chest Ornament Composed Of Intricate Silver Cords, Directing The Viewer’S Gaze To The Crowning Element: A Headpiece Designed In A Swirling-Rod Pattern. Framed By A Vivid Blue Border That Evokes A Serpentine Form, The Headpiece Extends Down The Back And Across The Figure’S Outstretched Arms. This Ensemble Masterfully Integrates Structural, Exotic And Forward-Thinking Elements, Epitomizing The Ornamental Sophistication Characteristic Of The Art Deco Period.

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 Circa 1964

Paper: 13 1/2” High By 9 1/2” Wide
Frame: 20 3/4” High By 16 7/8” Wide By 3/4″ 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