Fine Art M.S. Rau | Conte Hindou En Noir By Erte

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

Conte Hindou En Noir

Signed “Erté”(Middle Right)
Inscribed “Inscribed 1922” (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

Designed For A 1922 Show At The Folies Bergère, Erté Draws Inspiration From The Splendors Of India In Conte Hindou (Hindu Story). The Central Bare-Chested Figure, Adorned With A Resplendent Jewel-Encrusted Headpiece And Draped In Cascading Pearl Strands, Showcases A Striking Silhouette. The Design, Bathed In Hues Of Gold And Yellow, Resonates With Art Deco Geometric Patterns, Encapsulating The Western Fascination With Southeast Asia.

Thanks To The Breadth Of The Artist’S Cultural Experiences In His Youth, Erté’S Visionary Art Deco Style Looked To Both The Glory Of The Ancient World And The Allure Of Eastern Artistic Traditions. Erté Melded The Iconic Motifs Of Ancient Greece And Rome With Modern Sensuality And Style In His Costuming And Set Design, Particularly For The Performances Of Ancient Tales Like Helen Of Sparta And Hercules. The Artist Also Prominently Showcased Asian-Inspired Designs And A Growing Appreciation For Non-Western Aesthetics.

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 1922

Paper: 12 7/8“ High X 19 1/2” Wide
Frame: 19 1/8“ High X 26” Wide X 5/8″ Deep

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