Fine Art M.S. Rau | Les Bambous By Erte

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

Les Bambous


Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 361” (En Verso)

Gouache And Gold On Paper

Erté Renders A Stylish Gold And White Costume Titled Les Bambous, Translated As The Bamboos, For A Character In The Production Of Mah-Jongg, A Performance That Shares Its Name With A Tile-Based Game Originating From China In The 19Th Century. The Game Combines Skill, Strategy And Luck, With Various Strategies For Winning, And Its Popularity Quickly Spread Around Both Asia And The World. In Mah-Jongg, “Bamboos” (Or “Bams”) Is One Of The Tile Suits, Essential For Forming Winning Combinations And Patterns.

Erté‘S Dignified Figure Bears A Striking Resemblance To A Classical Chinese Deity Or A Regal Figure. Draped In An Elegant Robe That Combines Rich Gold And Deep Black Hues, The Garment Is Adorned With Intricate Interlocking Geometric Motifs On Its Sleeves. Crowning The Character’S Head Is A Splendid Headpiece Characterized By Matching Geometric Patterns, Its Extended Tendrils Reminiscent Of The Graceful Form Of Towering Bamboo Stalks, Cascading Down To The Wearer’S Waist. Notably, A Remarkably Similar Rendition Of This Design Can Be Observed Within The Permanent Exhibit Of The Metropolitan Museum Of Art In New York.

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 1925

Paper: 14″ High X 10 3/8” Wide
Frame: 20 3/4″ High X 16 7/8″ Wide X 5/8″ Deep

Provenance:
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