Exhilarating Ertè

This stunning serigraph by Erté is part of his Numeral series in which men, women, and mystical creatures contort themselves to form the digits 0 through 9. 

In this vividly colored silk screen print, deeply embossed with golden accents, a woman and man, or perhaps a goddess and god, appear to dance against a galaxy of stars as they form the numeral "8."

Erté was born Roman Petrovich Tyrtov in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. His father, who was an admiral of the Russian Imperial Fleet and the director of the Naval Engineering School, wanted his son to become a naval officer as well, but Ertè was drawn to art and design. To escape the disapproval of his parents, he traveled to Paris in 1912 to pursue his dream of becoming a designer. It was there that he assumed the assumed the pseudonym "Erté," created from his initials "R" and "T." Erté began his career in the atelier of famed Parsian couturier Paul Poiret and soon was designing costumes for dance companies and performers, from the Ballets Russe to Mata Hari. Drawing from Orientalism, ancient art, and the burgeoning art deco movement, Ertè became renown for his use of rich, decadent colors and flowing fabrics. He also became an illustrator and his elegant exotic drawings appeared on the covers of "Harper's Bazaar, as well as in such publications as "Illustrated London News," "Cosmopolitan," and "Vogue." In 1925, Erté traveled to Hollywood to design movie costumes for the MGM Studios, including "La Bohème" (1926) and "Ben Hur" (1959). The art deco revival of the 1960s brought new attention to Erté's work and he began producing limited edition lithographs. Erté was enthralled by this new media, as it made his art more accessible to collectors. In 1974, Erté signed a contract with Circle Fine Art Corporporation to produce serigraphs, lithographs, and etchings of his earlier designs and illustrations. Well into his eighties Erté continued to create, branching out in bronze and fine jewelry. He died in 1990.

 

The piece is signed in pencil by the artist. . . 

and carries the original gallery label indicating that this piece is 42 out of a limited run of 350. The framed serigraph also comes with authentication paperwork.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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