Erte

Erte, born Romain de Tirtoff (November 23, 1892 – April 21, 1990), was a Russian-born French artist and designer best known for his contributions to the Art Deco movement through fashion illustration, costume design, and stage imagery. He adopted the professional name Erté early in his career, combining his initials into a distinctive moniker that would become synonymous with his glamorous, decorative style.

Born in Saint Petersburg, he moved to Paris in the 1910s, where he produced stylized fashion plates and artwork that blended couture fashion with theatrical fantasy. His images are characterized by elongated figures, intricate ornamentation, bold line work, and a fusion of geometric forms with rich, decorative detail. He worked across illustration, theater, and decorative arts, creating costumes and sets for performances as well as posters, book illustrations, and textile and jewelry designs.

Erte’s art helped define the visual language of the interwar period, influencing fashion illustration and stage design well beyond his lifetime. His work remains widely collected and exhibited, appearing in major museums and galleries around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Erte died in Paris on April 21, 1990, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most recognizable figures of Art Deco. His name remains associated with elegance, glamour, and the dreamlike aesthetics of early 20th-century design.