1985
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.
Art Deco Embossed Serigraph Print by Erte, 1991, Boudoir
By Erté
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Erté Title: Boudoir Medium: Embossed serigraph Year: 1991 Edition: 290/300 Sheet Size: 41 3/4" x 29 1/4" Image Size: 35 1/4" x 23 1/4" Signature: Stamped signature
Screen
Flapper Embossed Serigraph by Erte, Art Deco Style, 1990, Signed
By Erté
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Erté Title: Flapper Medium: Embossed serigraph Year: 1990 Edition: CCXXII/CCC Sheet Size: 41 3/4" x 29 1/4" Image Size: 35 1/4" x 23 1/4" Signature: Stamped signature
Screen
Art Deco Embossed Serigraph by Erte, Signed, 1990, Pearls and Emeralds
By Erté
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Erté Title: Pearls and Emeralds Medium: Embossed serigraph Year: 1990 Edition: 265/300 Sheet Size: 41 3/4" x 29 1/4" Image Size: 35 1/4" x 23 1/4" Signature: Stamped signature
Screen
Le Jarre I, from 1958 The Last Works of Henri Matisse
By (after) Henri Matisse
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Henri Matisse (after) Title: Le Jarre I Portfolio: The Last Works of Henri Matisse Medium: Lithograph Date: 1958 Edition: 2000 Frame Size: 20 1/2" x 15 1/4" Sheet Size: 14" x...
Lithograph
Alexander Calder Lithograph Print, Abstract, 1973, Derriere le Miroir #201
By Alexander Calder
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alexander Calder Medium: Lithograph Title: Derriere le Miroir #201 Portfolio: Derriere le Miroir #201 Year: 1973 Edition: Unnumbered Framed ...
Lithograph
Alexander Calder Abstract Lithograph, Unsigned, 1968, Derriere le Miroir #173
By Alexander Calder
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alexander Calder Title: Derriere le Miroir #173 Portfolio: Derriere le Miroir #173 Medium: Lithograph Year: 1968 Edition: Unnumbered Sheet Size: 15" x 11" Image Size: 15" x 1...
Lithograph
Bamboo (bronze sculpture)
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture. Incised Erte signature with stamp numbered edition, foundry and date. From the edition of 375. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Artwork is in excellent co...
Bronze
American Millionairess
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
The inspiration for this sculpture comes from Erté's original costume design entitled "Texas," for the 1917 New York stage production of "The American Millionaires." This spectacular...
Bronze
Helen of Troy
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Erté’s image of Helen of Troy also exists as a gouache painting and a serigraph. Known as "the face that launched a thousand ships" and as Zeus' daughter, her story is one that is intricately intertwined with many of the Greek gods and goddesses...
Bronze
Broadway's in Fashion
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Erté, considered by many as the “Father of Art Deco,” often acknowledged that his love for the theater was a great source of creativity and inspiration. He conveyed in his art a drama with which he lived his life – a dream that came from the very innermost expression of his soul. Just like theater has two faces - comedy and tragedy - Erté was a brilliant showman, as well as a quiet man who sometimes would prefer to be left alone. From a young age, he was immersed in the world of opera, ballet, and theater. When he designed costumes and sets for theatrical productions, it was a lifelong desire that he was fulfilling. “Broadway’s in Fashion” is a fitting tribute to the legendary Broadway from a man who pursued the theatrical in everything he did. In 1978, Erté was honored by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation at a gala celebration in New York entitled “Broadway’s in Fashion” for which Erté designed the poster. This led to a CBS-TV film on Erté narrated by the legendary Diana Vreeland, and an exhibition of his costume designs at the Boston Center of the Arts. This sculpture, in scarlet and black, with white gold embellishments, incorporates the elements for which Broadway is best known. Her elegant and confident posture reveals her costume, which is itself an homage to Broadway – the scarlet robe with gold tassels evokes the stage curtain as it rises to reveal the first act, the male and female dancers, energetically giving their all for each performance, and the Greek masks of comedy and tragedy...
Bronze
DIANA (GLASS)
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Limited edition encased glass Art Deco vase with raised and etched design in frosted and cranberry glass colors. Holds Erte signature to lower right of figure. Stamp numbered with fo...
Glass
Roaring Twenties
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Erté is largely credited with creating the look of the Jazz Age. The 'Roaring Twenties' is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London and P...
Bronze
