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.
Le 0 Lithograph by Erté, Contemporary, Artist's Proof, 1968, Unframed
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Le 0 is a contemporary artwork realized in 1968 by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored lithograph on paper. The artwork is from the Series "Les Chiffres". Hand signed on the l...
Lithograph
Cleopatre, Hand Signed Screen Print, Art Deco, Edition of 300, 1986, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Artwork image size 22 x 27 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Frame size approx. 32 x 37 inches. Edition of 300. Artwork is in excellent ...
Paper, Screen
Letter X Lithograph by Erté, Contemporary, Signed Artist Proof, 1976
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Letter X - from the suite Letters of the Alphabet is a contemporary artwork realized by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Lithograph and Screen Print. The artwork i...
Lithograph
Letter O Lithograph by Erté, Contemporary, Artist Proof, 1976
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Letter O - from the suite Letters of the Alphabet is a contemporary artwork realized by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Lithograph and Screen Print. The artwork i...
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...
Screen, 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
$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
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
Plum Blossom Porcelain Plate, Art Deco, Limited Edition, 1990s
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Plum Blossom Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This charming and very rare plate was produced for H...
Porcelain
$2,160Sale Price|20% Off
Radiance Embossed Serigraph with Foil Stamping, Hand Signed, 44.25 in
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Radiance, from Celestial Virtues suite. Embossed serigraph with foil stamping on paper. Hand signed lower right by Erte. Hand numbered XXIII/CL lower left. Sheet size: 34 x 26.5 ...
Foil
Diamond, Hand Signed Lithograph, Art Deco, Edition of 75, 1969, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. From the Precious Stones Suite. Image size 18.5 x 12.5 inches. Frame size approx. 32 x 26 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certifi...
Lithograph, Paper
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
$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
$19,850
"Lakme" Decca design
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
This design for a Decca recording of Lakme likely dates to the 1950s, and specifically to the 1952 recording with Mado Robin, conductor Georges Sébastian, at the Théâtre National de ...
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
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
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
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
Reflection, Erté, Original Lithograph (Signed)
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
“Reflection” is a wonderful original Art Deco lithograph created by a famous Russian-born French artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Image size (including signature): 23 x 17 in. Framed Size: 31 x 25 in. Edition 239/300. 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
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
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