Décor Final, Les Mamelles de Tirésias by Erté

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

Décor Final, Les Mamelles de Tirésias

Signed “Erté”(lower right)
Inscribed "No. 8510 / Les Mamelles de Tirésias / Décor Final / Composition originale" (en verso)
Gouache on paper

Utilizing a palette of blues and oranges, Erté masterfully depicts the concluding scene of Les Mamelles de Tirésias set on a romantically illuminated city street. The intricate Art Deco architecture of the buildings, punctuated by individual lamps within each enclave, adds a sense of enigmatic charm as characters descend a staircase to the right. This tableau, at once kaleidoscopic and metropolitan, captures the elegance of the Art Deco period and the essence of the celebrated play as only Erté could envision.

Les Mamelles de Tirésias (The Breasts of Tiresias) is a groundbreaking play penned by Jean Cocteau that debuted in 1917. While the original rendition wasn't musical, it served as a satirical commentary on the gender norms of its time, exploring profound themes of gender identity and the dynamics of masculinity and femininity. Cocteau ingeniously reimagined the myth of the Theban prophet Teiresias, centering the story around Thérèse, who transitions genders to navigate and influence the male-centric world. An operatic version of Les Mamelles de Tirésias, with Erté's costume and decor opened on June 3, 1947 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.

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. Often remembered as the “Father of Art Deco,” 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 1947

Paper: 6 1/2” high by 9” wide
Frame: 14 1/2” high by 17 1/4” wide by 5/8" deep

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

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