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.
Geometry (Earrings)
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Created in the 1980s for Erté's 'Art to Wear' jewelry collection, this gouache painting on paper is signed 'Erté' on the front and titled and annotated on the back in Erté's hand - "...
Paper, Gouache
Ermine Brocade Bronze Sculpture, Art Deco, Signed, Edition of 375
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina and polished embellishments. Incised Erte signature with stamped numbered edition, foundry and date. From the edition of 375. Published by...
Bronze
Letter W Serigraph from Alphabet Suite, Hand Signed, Edition OF 350, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper from the Alphabet Suite. Hand signed by Erte lower right. Hand numbered 172/350 lower left. Sheet size: 25.5 x 18.62 inches. Image size: 15.75 x 10....
Paper, Screen
La Fonctionaire, Elle
By Erté
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: (Romain De Tirtoff) Erte (Russian, 1892-1990) Title: La Fonctionaire, Elle. Year: February 26 1962 Medium: Original gouache Paper: Canson Mongolfier Size paper: 14.75 x ...
Gouache
l' Oeuf a Gober
By Erté
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: (Romain De Tirtoff) Erte (Russian, 1892-1990) Title: l' Oeuf a Gober Year: 1958 Medium: Original gouache Paper: Canson Mongolfier Paper size: 14.2 x 10.65 inches Signa...
Gouache
Madame De Chateaubedeau
By Erté
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork, titled "Madame De Chateaubedeau," circa 1935, is an original gouache by Russian/French artist Erte, Romain De Tirtoff 1892-1990. It is hand sig...
Gouache
Bamboo Bronze Sculpture, Art Deco Style, Signed Edition of 375, 1989
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
Letter J Serigraph from Alphabet Suite, Hand Signed, Edition OF 350, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper from the Alphabet Suite. Hand signed by Erte lower right. Hand numbered 20/350 lower left. Sheet size: 25.5 x 18.56 inches. Image size: 15.75 x 10.5...
Paper, Screen
Letter O - Lithograph and Screen Print by Erté - 1976
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Hand signed and numbered. Limited edition of 350 prints. From the suite “Alphabet”. Excellent condition. Lithograph/Serigraph.
Lithograph, Screen
$12,850
Sisters
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Sisters was inspired by a gouache painting from 1921 entitled 'Les baisers pervers ou la brune et la blonde' and is a wonderful example of an invention of Erté's from the early 1920s...
Bronze
$19,850
"Mignon" Decca design
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
This design for Decca Records likely dates to the 1950s, and perhaps specifically the 1953 recording with Janine Micheau, conducted by Georges Sébastian. Signed recto 'Erté' mid-righ...
Paper, Gouache
Tempest, Erté, Original Lithograph (Signed)
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
“Tempest” is a wonderful original Art Deco lithograph created by a famous Russian-born French artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Image size (with signature): 24 x 19 in. Framed size: 31 x 25 in. Edition 184/300. The artwork is framed. Signed by the artist on the bottom right corner. It is in excellent condition. Known as the “Father of Art Deco,” he created elegant decorative images that are timeless in their beauty and sophistication. Clean lines of his glamorous and evocative works resemble the geometry of Classical Greek pottery and Japanese art of woodblock prints. Erté’s artworks...
Lithograph
Le 2 Lithograph by Erté, Contemporary, Signed Artist's Proof, 1960s
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Le 2 is a contemporary artwork realized in 1970s by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored lithograph on paper. The artwork is from the Series "Les Chiffres" Hand signed on the l...
Lithograph
Letter C Lithograph and Screen Print, Contemporary, Artist Proof, 1976
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Letter C - from the suite Letters of the Alphabet is a contemporary artwork realized by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff. Lithograph and Screen Print. The artwork is from the suite "Letters...
Lithograph, Screen
La Merveilleuse - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
La Merveilleuse Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè...
Porcelain
Monte Carlo Serigraph, Art Deco Style, Hand Signed, 1980s, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper. Hand signed lower right by Erte. Hand numbered 325/350 lower left. Sheet size: 25 x 18.5 inches. Frame size: 28 x 23 inches. Published by Chalk &am...
Paper, Screen
Ermine Brocade, 1987
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Ermine Brocade is an expertly crafted, embossed serigraph on black paper with foil stamping and an image size of 27 x 25 inches. From the edition of 580, the art is numbered 24/300 a...
Paper, Screen
$9,850
Motherhood
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Motherhood is based on an image originally created as a costume design for Les Idoles at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt in 1924. Catalogue - Erté: The Last Works (Dutton, pgs. 179, 207...
Bronze
$7,850
On the Avenue
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
On the Avenue was created originally as a gouache and presents a female figure wearing a typical 1920's flapper outfit. During the 1920s, fashion for young women focused less on the ...
Bronze
Clip or Broach (No.18.843)
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
This beautiful painting in gouache and gold paint was created as a brooch design in the 1980s.The artwork is signed 'Erté' on the front, and numbered and titled in Erté's hand verso ...
Paper, Gouache
The Vamps by Erté set of four framed lithographs and original folder with tassel
By Erté
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"The Vamps" by Erté. Set of four framed color lithographs ("Circe", "L'Empanachee," "Seductress" and "Temptress") and original folder (unframed). All four lithographs are beautifully framed under glass with a wood moulding...
Lithograph
French Rooster, Erté, Original Lithograph (Signed)
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
“French Rooster” is a wonderful original Art Deco lithograph created by a famous Russian-born French artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Image size (including signature): 24 x 19 in. Framed Size: 31 x 25 in. Edition 175/260. The artwork is framed. Signed by the artist on the bottom right corner. It is in excellent condition. Known as the “Father of Art Deco,” he created elegant decorative images that are timeless in their beauty and sophistication. Clean lines of his glamorous and evocative works resemble the geometry of Classical Greek pottery and Japanese art of woodblock prints. Erté’s artworks...
Lithograph
Fish Bowl, Erté, Original Lithograph (Signed)
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
“Fish Bowl” is a wonderful original Art Deco lithograph created by a famous Russian-born French artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Image size (including signature): 21 x 16 in. Framed Size: 52 x 26 in. Edition 149/300. The artwork is framed. Signed by the artist on the bottom right corner. It is in excellent condition. Known as the “Father of Art Deco,” he created elegant decorative images that are timeless in their beauty and sophistication. Clean lines of his glamorous and evocative works resemble the geometry of Classical Greek pottery and Japanese art of woodblock prints. Erté’s artworks...
Lithograph
The Golden Calf Screen Print, Art Deco, Hand Signed Edition of 300, Framed, 1983
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Framed as pictured. Frame size: 34 x 28 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. Edition of 300. ...
Screen, Paper
Letter N Serigraph from Alphabet Suite, Hand Signed, 198/350, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper from the Alphabet Suite. Hand signed by Erte lower right. Hand numbered 198/350 lower left. Sheet size: 25.25 x 18.62 inches. Image size: 15.75 x 10....
Paper, Screen
Zsa Zsa, Erté, Original Lithograph (Signed)
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
“Zsa Zsa” is a wonderful original Art Deco lithograph created by a famous Russian-born French artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Image size (with signature): 2...
Lithograph
Nature's Vanity Hand Signed Screen Print, Art Deco, 1982, Edition of 300, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Image size 25 x 18 inches. Sheet size 32 x 24 inches. Framed as pictured. Frame size approx. 38 x 30 inches. Artwork is in excellent conditi...
Screen, Paper
Pickpockets, ecolier
By Erté
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is a unique, original gouache on paper by Erte, also known as Romain de Tirtoff. This piece was created in 1962 as a costume design for a cabaret show. It is from the priv...
Gouache
Pickpocket, ecoliere
By Erté
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is a unique, original gouache on paper by Erte, also known as Romain de Tirtoff. This piece was created in 1962 as a costume design for a cabaret show. It is from the priv...
Gouache
Erté, "Costume pour le Raspoutine, " unique gouache, hand signed
By Erté
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is a unique, original gouache on paper by Erte, also known as Romain de Tirtoff. It was created in 1957 as a costume design for a cabaret show and is from the private coll...
Gouache
Belle de Nuit Bronze Sculpture, Art Deco Style, Signed, Edition of 375
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Incised signature by the artist and stamp numbered with foundry and date. Additional images are available upon request. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Please do not hesitat...
Bronze
On the Avenue Bronze Sculpture, Art Deco, Signed, 1989, Edition of 375
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture.. Incised artist signature; stamp numbered with foundry and date. Edition: Of 375. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Artwork is in excellent condition. All...
Bronze
Cosi Fan Tutte Fleurdelise, Original Gouache on Paper, Signed, 25x20 in.
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Unique, one of a kind original gouache on paper from Harper's Bazar series. Hand signed lower front by Erte; titled with studio catalog number on verso. Sheet size 15 x 10.5 inch...
Gouache
The Clasp Large Screen Print, Signed, 1983, Edition of 150, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. From the Roman Numeral edition of 150. Framed size approx 50 x 34 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity inc...
Paper, Screen
Final - La Gamme - Russian Art Deco Fashion Design
By Erté
Located in London, GB
ERTE (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 St. Petersburg 1892-1990 (Russian/French) Title: Final - La Gamme Technique: Original Hand Signed Gouache on paper size: 31.4 x 15.4 cm / 12.4...
Gouache
Price Upon Request
Alphabet Suite Portfolio
By Erté
Located in Long Island City, NY
A portfolio of twenty-six images by Erte from 1982. The Alphabet Suite Portfolio includes a series of figures representing the numbers A to Z in Erte's ...
Screen
Price Upon Request
Numbers Suite Portfolio
By Erté
Located in Long Island City, NY
A portfolio of ten images by Erte from 1980. The Numbers Suite Portfolio includes a series of figures representing the numbers zero to nine in Erte's classic art deco style. Pictured are Number Three, Number Eight and Number Nine...
Paper, Screen