Fine Art M.S. Rau | Coquillages Et Filet Poissons By Erte

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

Coquillages Et Filet Poissons (Shells And Fishnet)

Signed “Erté”(Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 33.3” (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

This Captivating Gouache On Paper Features A Daring Cabaret Costume Rendered With Erté’S Iconic Art Deco Flair. Entitled Coquillages Et Filet Poissons Or Shells And Fishnet, The Artwork Presents A Striking Woman, Adorned With Shells Reminiscent Of Indigenous Artistry. A Fishnet Cape, Complete With Fish Caught In The Netting, Cascades From The Figure’S Headdress And Drapes Artfully Around Her Scantily Clad Form. Accentuated With A Coordinating Belt, Arm Cuff And A Headpiece Evoking The Sharp Edges Of Rare Conchs, The Model Emanates A Blend Of Both Beauty And Peril. Radiating In Bold Gold And Red Tones, The Artist’S Topless Model Embodies The Bold Allure For Which He Is Most Celebrated.

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 1940

Paper: 11 1/2” High By 8” Wide
Frame: 16 5/8” High By 13 1/2” 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:
Serge Leeman, Paris
Private Collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans