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.
$7,850
Cabaret
By Erté
Located in Greenwich, CT
Cabaret, so evocative of cabaret-style shows, was a costume design for a 1940 production entitled 'Dream Waltz' by Oscar Strauss, based on a novella from 1905 by Hans Müller-Einingen...
Bronze
$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
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
Manhattan Mary II Serigraph, Art Deco, Signed, Framed, 1986
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered on front by Erte. From the edition of 300. Artwork size 23.25 x 16.5 inches. Framed size approx 29 x 23 inches. Artwork is...
Paper, Screen
Starstruck Art Deco Glass Sculpture, Limited Edition of 300, 2004
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Limited edition encased glass Art Deco vase with raised and etched design in frosted and cobalt blue glass colors. Holds Erte signature to lower right of figure. Stamp numbered with ...
Glass
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
Myths Suite Serigraphs, Hand Signed, Foil Stamped, Embossed, Framed
By Erté
Located in Aventura, FL
Myths Suite (Circe & Diana). Serigraph in colors with foil stamping and embossment on wove paper. Each hand signed lower right by Erte. Each hand numbered CI/CL lower left (ma...
Foil
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
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
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 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
"La Princesse Lointaine", Erte, Original Serigraph numbered 291/300, Art Deco
By Erté
Located in Dallas, TX
"La Princesse Lointaine" is a serigraph created in 1984 by Erté. Classic art deco piece with a gaudy princess in yellow and pink with a star above ...
Lithograph, Screen
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
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
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
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
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