Fine Art M.S. Rau | L’Intellectuelle By Erte

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

L’Intellectuelle (The Intellectual)

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “N° 5456 / L’Intellectuelle / Olga / Composition Originale” (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

This Original Gouache From The Creative Mind Of Erté Entitled L’Intellectuelle Embodies The Art Deco Glamour And Tongue-In-Cheek Artistry For Which The Artist’S Designs Are So Beloved. Merging Art Deco Fashion With Playful Whimsy, Erté Dresses His Model, Aptly Called The “Intellectual,” In Long Fluttering Black Sleeves And A Pleated White Collar Reminiscent Of The Attire Of The British Parliament. However, Erté’S Model Trades Long Voluminous Robes For A Few Sheets Of Fabric Text, Securing The Scant Bodice And Skirt With A Feather Quill Pin. Simultaneously Exuding Learnedness And Sensuality, Erté’S Design Is Crafted Equally From What Articles Of Clothing Remain And Which Are Playfully Missing. A Risqué Yet Sophisticated Ensemble, This Elegant Gouache On Paper Underscores Erté’S Clever Imagination And Unimpeachable Taste. Oft-Called “Father Of Art Deco,” This Clever Ensemble Showcases Erté’S Fashion-Forward Sartorial Genius.

Paris Emerged As A Beacon Of Hope And Rejuvenation Following The Upheaval Of The First World War. The City Attracted Innumerable International Figures, From Ernest Hemingway And Pablo Picasso To Gertrude Stein, Each Drawn To Paris For Its Artistic Vitality. Parisian High Society Flocked To Opulent Parties And Balls, With The City’S Elite Showcasing The Latest Haute Couture Creations. Erté’S Sartorial Masterpieces Found Acclaim Among Many Fashionistas And Socialites, Who Often Viewed His Designs In Publications Such As Harper’S Bazaar.

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 1940

Paper: 14 1/4” High By 9 1/2” Wide
Frame: 29 3/4” High By 16 7/8” 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:
Private Collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans