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

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

Les Électriciens, 3E Aspect Du Décor
Set Design For The Electricians In Les Machinistes/Em≫

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed: No. 18.403 / Les Machinistes, 3E Aspect Du Décor / Les Électriciens / Composition Originale (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

A Showcase Of Erté’S Pioneering Creativity And Engagement With The Traditions Of Theater, This Beautiful Set Design For Les Machinistes Epitomizes The Creative Grandeur Of The Man Often Hailed As The “Father Of Art Deco.” This Gouache Features An Elaborately Illuminated Net, Recalling The Subject Of The Scene, Electricians. A Series Of Four Columns Stand Illuminated By An Ombre Of Warm Colors And String Lights Rain Down To The Stage. Erté Creates Abstracted Illuminated Figures, Crafting His Own Deco Version Of A Parade Of Electric Light-Illuminated Characters. Artful And Over-The-Top, This Set Design Showcases How The Art Deco Master Embraced The Industries Of Progress.

This Particular Set Design Captured The Eye Of One Of The Most Famous Performers In History, Freddie Mercury. The Iconic Queen Frontman Once Held An Almost Identical Gouache Of This Set Design In His Prestigious Collection.

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.

Circa 1974

Paper: 7” High By 11 1/2” Wide
Frame: 13 1/8” High By 17 3/4” 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:
Sale, Sotheby’S Arcade, 1994
Private Collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans