Costume de femme, Le Baron Tzigane by Erté

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff)
1892-1990 | Russian-French

Costume de femme pour Le Baron Tzigane
Women’s Costume for the Gypsy Baron

Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Stamped “Composition originale” and "Erté Estate, Boulogne 1990" (en verso)
Inscribed "No. 12.222 / Zigeuner Baron"
Gouache on paper

An enchanting costume design for the opera The Gypsy Baron, this beautiful ensemble showcases Erté’s eye for building building character and drama into his costumes. Le Baron Tzigane is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II. The story, of the marriage of a landowner and a gypsy girl who is revealed as the daughter of a Turkish pasha, and the rightful owner of a hidden treasure, involves a fortune-telling Romany queen, a self-important mayor, a rascally commissioner, a military governor, a band of gypsies and a troop of hussars. Erté’s 1951 costume reflects this myriad of cultural influences as he creates an elaborate and artfully-tattered ensemble complete with gold coin details, pointed black boots and sensuous black gloves.

The alliance between Erté and the vibrant performing arts scene of Paris transported audiences to new heights throughout the early 20th century. Erté emerged as an unmatched and emblematic creative force whose visionary designs were imbued with an otherworldly appeal. His mesmerizing costume and set designs left an indelible imprint on operatic and theater productions of the period.

Russian-French visionary Romain de Tirtoff (1892-1990), popularly known as Erté, began his artistic journey in the culturally rich city of St. Petersburg, where he developed an early fondness for ballet and theatrical performances. He moved to Paris in 1912 to study architecture, and quickly found his creative niche in crafting fantastical costumes for the city’s bustling nightlife. Erté‘s expertise, refined under the guidance of the famed Paul Poiret, captured the attention of Harper’s Bazaar, marking the beginning of a significant partnership that spanned from 1915 to 1936. The artist also designed sets for notable cinematic masterpieces including Ben Hur and La Bohème, and created sets and costumes for cabarets, operas and other performances at the Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, the Théâtre du Bataclan and Le Casino de Paris. Erté was a trailblazer whose colorful creations shaped the groundbreaking Art Deco era more than any other, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art and design. His artworks reside in prestigious museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Painted 1951

Paper: 12" high x 8 1/2" wide
Frame: 17 1/4" high x 14 1/8" wide x 5/8" deep

Provenance:
Collection of the artist, Boulogne, 1990
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024