Erte

Key facts

Lived

1892–1990^[1]

Works held in

1 museum

Wikipedia

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• What is Erte's most famous work?+

  Erté is best known for his serigraph prints and fashion design work, particularly his covers for *Harper's Bazaar* from 1915^[1] to 1932. These covers are striking examples of Art Deco illustration, marked by stylised figures and flowing lines. His work often featured elegant women in theatrical costumes, reflecting the glamour and sophistication of the era. He also designed for magazines such as *Vogue*, *Cosmopolitan*, and *The Sketch*. Beyond magazine illustration, Erté designed costumes and sets for the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway, as well as for various films and theatre productions. His work encompassed a range of media, including graphic arts, jewellery, and interior design, but his magazine covers remain among his most recognisable and celebrated achievements.
• What should I know about Erte's prints?+

  Erte (Romain de Tirtoff, 1892^[1]-1990^[1]) was a Russian-French artist and designer best known for his elegant Art Deco illustrations that appeared in magazines such as *Harper's Bazaar*. His work translates well into fine-art prints, and there are several things to consider when purchasing them. Original prints, such as woodcuts, etchings, or lithographs, are produced by hand by the artist. Each one is considered an original because the artist creates the artwork directly on the plate, block, stone, or screen. These "hand-pulled" prints are often sold in limited editions, with each print numbered (for example, 35/100, meaning it is the 35th print of 100). The artist usually signs each print in pencil, adding to its value. A limited edition is the choice of the artist, not a technical limitation. Offset reproductions, also known as posters, are reproduced by photochemical means. The number of prints is not physically limited, but publishers may impose limits to increase the edition's value. Giclée prints are inkjet fine art prints, while canvas transfers involve transferring the image onto canvas to give it the appearance of a painting. When buying prints, consider the quality of the paper, ink, and printing process.
• What style or movement did Erte belong to?+

  Erté is associated with the Art Deco style, which emerged in the 1920s, a period of optimism and creative energy following the First World War. Art Deco's influence spanned various disciplines, including fashion and architecture. Its influences included folk art, Cubism, Fauvism, and art from India and the Far East. The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922^[1] sparked public interest in ancient Egypt, adding another element to the style. Art Deco is characterised by geometric shapes and streamlined designs, intended to be attractive rather than intellectually challenging. Artists aimed to bring glamour to mass-produced objects, combining form and function. Fashion was important during this European Age of Elegance. Some works are modelled after the elongated mannerism of fashion illustration, as seen in Erté's style. The style declined during the Depression of the 1930s, but remains popular for its glamour.
• What techniques or materials did Erte use?+

  Erte's work encompassed a variety of media, including graphic art and costume design, as well as painting and sculpture. In painting, Erte often employed gouache, an opaque watercolour paint, to achieve flat, even blocks of colour and precise lines. This was well-suited to his Art Deco style, which favoured stylised forms and decorative patterns. He also used airbrush techniques to create smooth gradations and subtle shading effects, adding to the glamorous and polished look of his images. For his prints, Erte was a master of serigraphy, also known as screen printing. This technique allowed him to reproduce his designs with great accuracy and consistency, using a stencil to apply ink to paper or fabric. He often embellished his serigraphs with metallic pigments and embossing, further enhancing their luxurious appeal. Erte's sculptural work often involved bronze, cast into elegant, elongated forms. These sculptures translated his characteristic style into three dimensions, maintaining the same sense of sophistication and refinement seen in his paintings and prints.
• What was Erte known for?+

  Erté (born Romain de Tirtoff in Russia, 1892^[1]) was a designer and artist who found success in Paris. He is known for fashion illustration; his style exaggerated the elongated figures popularised by Paul Poiret. The Ballets Russes, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by Nijinsky, had an enormous impact on Parisian culture from their debut in 1909^[1]. Erté was among several Russian artists who immigrated to Paris during the Belle Époque. Others included Leon Bakst, Sonia Delaunay, and A. M. Cassandre. Erté began his career working with Paul Poiret. Artists working in Paris during the 1920s produced fabric and wallpaper designs with irregular geometric forms and bright colours. These designs reflected the influence of Cubism. Some Goldscheider figures were modelled after Erté's fashion illustrations, copying the couture, hairstyles, and accessories of the period.
• Where can I see Erte's work?+

  Erte's works have been featured in numerous exhibitions across the globe. In the late 1990s, his pieces were part of 'Prints and Processes' at the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida, and 'Multiples of the Sixties', which travelled to several locations including the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the Toledo Museum of Art. Further exhibitions featuring Erte's art included 'Pop Impressions U.S.A.: Prints and Multiples from the Museum of Modern Art' at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1999, and 'Pop Art: U.S./U.K. Connections 1956^[1]-1966^[1]' at The Menil Collection, Houston, in 2001. These exhibitions provide opportunities to view Erte's contributions to modern and Pop art movements in both national and international collections.
• Who did Erte influence?+

  Erte's artistic influence can be seen in several areas, particularly fashion illustration and the broader world of commercial art. His stylised figures and costume designs had an impact on the Goldscheider manufactory, which produced ceramic figures. The artists at Goldscheider often copied contemporary couture, hairstyles, and accessories, reflecting the "European Age of Elegance". Some of these Goldscheider figures appear to be based on the elongated style of fashion illustration popularised by Paul Poiret and exaggerated by Erte. These "fashion models", distinct from dancer figures in stage costumes, demonstrate Erte's influence on the representation of fashionable women in commercial art. The covers of magazines such as Vogue were a source of inspiration during the 1920s and 1930s, not only for Goldscheider but also for other makers of female ceramic figures. The dissemination of Art Nouveau forms into popular culture is significant, as cheap reproductions played a part in the ubiquity of the style.
• Who influenced Erte?+

  Erte was inspired by a number of artistic movements and individual artists. Art Nouveau, which was flourishing during Erte's early career, provided a strong foundation for his aesthetic. The stylised plant motifs popular in glassware, ceramics, and silver of the era, owe a debt to Emile Gallé. The influence of Aubrey Beardsley, Eugène Grasset, and others who worked as book illustrators is also apparent in Erte's graphic style. Publications such as *The Studio*, *the Magazine of Art* and *L’Artiste* helped to promote the decorative arts, and exposed Erte to a variety of styles and approaches. Gustav Klimt also had an impact. Klimt's sinuous style, use of gold leaf, and focus on the female form can be seen echoed in Erte's work. Henri Matisse also inspired Erte. These influences, combined with Erte's own unique vision, helped him to create a distinctive style.
• Who was Erte?+

  Erté (born Romain de Tirtoff, 1892^[1]-1990^[1]) was a Russian-French artist and designer. He is best known for his glamorous Art Deco illustrations which appeared on covers of *Harper's Bazaar* from 1918^[1] through 1936. Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Erté moved to Paris in 1912 to pursue his artistic interests, against his family's wishes. His pseudonym "Erté" is the French pronunciation of his initials, R.T. Erté designed costumes and stage sets for the Ballets Russes, George White's Scandals, and the Folies Bergère. His designs are characterised by elegance, flowing lines, and stylised figures. He worked in a variety of media, including graphic arts, jewellery, fashion, and set design. His work experienced a revival in the 1960s, and he continued to create designs until his death at the age of 97. Erté's distinctive style has had a lasting effect on fashion and design.
• Why are Erte's works important today?+

  Erté's works maintain importance because they represent the fashions, hairstyles, and overall appearance of his period. Fashion held significant importance during the European Age of Elegance. Artists like Erté meticulously captured the cut and pattern of modern couture, including accessories like hats, gloves, make-up, and jewellery. His fashion illustrations gained popularity, influencing contemporary tastes. These depictions of fashion "models" differ from typical dancer figures often portrayed in minimal stage costumes. The challenges that artists like Erté sought to address regarding the loneliness and perceived ugliness of the modern world remain relevant today. The efforts to bring beauty and good design to the world, in all their varied forms, continue to resonate.
• What was Erte's art style?+

  Erté's illustrations defined a visual grammar that magazines, theatre producers, and filmmakers all wanted. His Art Deco style featured lean, geometrically elegant women draped in silk and fur.
• When was Erte born?+

  Erte was born in 1892^[1]. Erte died in 1990^[1], aged 98.