Erte : Romain De Tirtoff, 1892-1990

Exhibition Erté: an Art Deco Genius. Return to St Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia, June 21 to September 18, 2016

New edition tracing the work of Romain de Tirtoff, who changed his name to Erté when he left his native St. Petersburg for Paris in 1912, becoming one of the most sought-after artists of the 20th century. 

His illustrations for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue remain classics of the genre, proving that mass art can be genuine art. His work as a theater set designer, costume designer and fashion designer in Europe and America combines an eye for fashion and elegance with a sense of theatricality. In his early years, Erté worked closely with the couturier Paul Poiret; he then took his remarkable talent to the stage, creating numerous designs for the revues and shows so popular at the time, as well as to the cinema with his work for MGM. Mata Hari, Lillian Gish, Anna Pavlova and George Balanchine are just a few of the people whose costumes Erté designed. Even as his fame declined, Erté remained true to his life's work, continuing to create his wonderfully refined and delicate designs, including the popular Alphabet series.