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

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

Les Fleurs
(The Flowers)

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “No. 362” (En Verso)

Gouache On Paper

Erté Masterfully Designs An Opulent Costume In Gold And Red, Titled Les Fleurs, (The Flowers) For A Character In The Theatrical Production Of Mah-Jongg. Drawing Inspiration From The 19Th-Century Chinese Tile Game Mah-Jongg — A Fusion Of Skill, Strategy And Chance That Has Garnered Global Recognition — The Costume’S Title, Les Fleurs Directly Alludes To One Of The Symbolic Characters Featured On The Game’S Tiles. Clothed In This Elaborate Ensemble, The Character Encapsulates The Essence Of Traditional Chinese Opulence. The Attire Includes An Exquisite Robe And Gown Embellished With Floral Motifs Arranged In Concentric Geometric Designs. The Character’S Hands Are Folded In A Gesture Of Reverence, Directing The Viewer’S Attention To The Face, Subtly Obscured By A Collar Resembling A Mask. The Crowning Element Is The Headpiece, Which Unfurls Around The Character’S Head Like A Chrysanthemum In Bloom.

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 1/2″ High X 10 1/2” Wide
Frame: 20 3/4″ High X 16 3/4″ Wide X 5/8″ Deep

Provenance:
Private Collection, Paris
Delavenne &Amp; Lafarge
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté And The Era Of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 – January 3, 2024