1919
Born Romain de Tirtoff (1892–1990) in St. Petersburg, Russia, to an aristocratic family, the artist known as Erté — a pseudonym derived from the French pronunciation of his initials — was a Renaissance man of the art and design world. He worked in graphic arts, interior design, fashion, jewelry and set design for the stage and silver screen, becoming a leader of the Art Deco style.
Moving to Paris in 1912, Erté worked as a fashion designer under couturier Paul Poiret before securing a job with Harper’s Bazaar as a cover artist. Over 22 years, Erté created more than 240 magazine covers alongside his ongoing work in fashion design.
Extending his prolific career into theater sets, costumes, prints and lithographs, Erté became one of the most famous artists of the era. His style — a combination of the nature-inspired flourishes of Art Nouveau and bold, geometric linework — directly contributed to the birth of Art Deco, earning him the nickname “the Father of Art Deco.”
After a lull of creative production in the 1940s and 1950s, Erté reentered the public eye in the 1960s, when a renewed interest in Art Deco had taken shape.
Creating colorful lithographs, bold serigraphs (silk-screen prints) and bronze sculptures, he contributed to a resurgence of the style in France and beyond. This late-life acclaim for his art led to exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world as well as his first published monograph in 1970. That same year he was awarded the title of Chevalier du Mérite Artistique et Cultural and in 1976 was named Officier des Arts et Lettres by the French government.
Today, Erté’s works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and LACMA in Los Angeles.
On 1stDibs, browse a collection of Erté art, including fine art prints, paintings and other works.
Untitled Fashion Design, 1920
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Untitled (Fashion Design) was created for Harper's Bazar and appeared in the February, 1920 edition of the magazine. This is a gouache painting on tissue paper measuring approximately 10 x 6.5 inches and framed in a custom, closed-corner Art Deco...
Paper, Gouache
Troisemmè Dame, 1919
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Troisemmè Dame from 1919 is a gouache painting on paper, 12 x 9.5 inches, framed in a custom, closed-corner, Art Deco frame to 20.25 x 18 inches. Signed recto 'Erté' mid lower right ...
Paper, Gouache
Martha, Act I (Chicago Opera), 1925
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Martha, Act I (Chicago Opera) from 1925 is a gouache on paper measuring approximately 9 x 7 inches and framed in a custom, closed-corner frame. Signed recto 'Erté' mid-right and stamped with Erte's Villa Excelsior block stamp and 'Composition originale' verso. Annotated in fountain pen verso 'No 659 Martha I acte Pour Madame Ganna Walska...
Gouache, Paper
Demeter (Les Idoles, Folies Bergère), 1924
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Déméter from Les Idoles, Folies Bergère was created in 1924 and is a gouache on paper measuring approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches. Framed in a custom, closed-corner Art Deco...
Paper, Gouache
June
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in Greenwich, CT
June is an expertly crafted, embossed serigraph on paper with foil stamping and an image size of 27 x 22 inches. From the edition of 650, the art is numbered 203/300 and estate-stamp...
Paper, Screen
May
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in Greenwich, CT
May is an expertly crafted, embossed serigraph on paper with foil stamping and an image size of 27 x 22 inches. From the edition of 650, the art is numbered 171/300 and estate-stampe...
Paper, Screen
Costume Design Gouache Artwork, Art Deco Style, 20th Century, Signed
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Costume Design is an original modern artwork realized in 1970s by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower m...
Gouache
Gysie by Erté
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in New Orleans, LA
Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Gysie Signed "Erté"(lower right) Inscribed "No. 5442" (en verso) Gouache on paper An enthralling pink gown by Erté is namedGysie,...
Paper, Gouache
The Blue Dress, Art Deco signed lithography by Erte
By Erté
Located in Berlin, MD
Erte (Romain de Tirtoff) Russian/French 1892-1990. Pencil Signed lower right, numbered 176/300. A lovely woman with an impish smile and a flashing green scarf in a sideways pose. P...
Lithograph
Les Travestis By Erté
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in New Orleans, LA
Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Les travestis (The Transvestites) Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "No. 18.363 / Moi, j'aime le music-hall / Les Travestis" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté’s costume...
Paper, Gouache
L'Aurore boréale by Erté
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in New Orleans, LA
Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French L'Aurore boréale(The Aurora Borealis) Signed "Erté" (lower right) Inscribed ---- (en verso) Gouache on paper In this colorful gouache, Erté draws an enticing and unique fashion design on his model's elegantly elongated figure. Crowned by an elaborate headdress, the woman wears a daring gauzy caftan that drapes dangerously low, celebrating her nude form. EntitledL'Aurore Boréale" or The Aurora Borealis, this work embodies the Art Deco glamour for which the artist's designs are so beloved. This ensemble was inspired by Les Fleurs du mal, the famed volume of poems from iconic French writer Charles Baudelaire. As the name suggests, this creative design links the celebrated "fleur" orchids with one of nature's other great marvels, the Aurora Borealis. This refined piece of art radiates the essential luxury and theatricality that could only be accomplished by Erté, oft referred to as the "Father of Art Deco." First published in 1857, Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal was controversial for its suggestive content and themes of decadence and eroticism. The volume provided a wealth of inspiration for Erté and he drew from several themes to create original fashion sketches...
Paper, Gouache
La Dionée Dite Gobe-Mouches By Erté
By Erte - Romain de Tirtoff
Located in New Orleans, LA
Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French La dionée dite Gobe-mouches(Venus Flytrap) Signed "Erté" (lower right) Inscribed ---- (en verso) Gouache on paper Daring and mysterious, this original gouache from the creative mind of Erté features the sinuous figure of a woman wearing a unique ebony and sanguine body suit with a dramatic wing-like cape. Entitled La dionée dite Gobe-mouches or Venus Flytrap, this work embodies the Art Deco glamour and tongue-in-cheek artistry for which the artist's designs are so beloved. Inspired by the famed volume of poems from iconic French writer Charles Baudelaire, this ensemble showcases Erté's sartorial interpretation of La Vampire from Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal. This elegant composition exudes the quintessential opulence and drama that only Erté, the oft-called "Father of Art Deco," could achieve. La dionée dite Gobe-mouches showcases the breadth of Erté's creativity and his design expertise. First published in 1857, Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal was controversial for its suggestive content and themes of decadence and eroticism. The volume provided a wealth of inspiration for Erté and he drew from several specific poems to create original fashion sketches...
Paper, Gouache
