Décor pour La Princesse Lointaine by Erté

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

Décor pour La Princesse Lointaine

Signed “Erté” (center right)
Inscribed “N°1634 / La Princesse lointaine / décor du 4e acte"(en verso)
Gouache on paper

Exuding the grandeur of a distant age, this design sets the scene for a medieval romance entitled La Princesse Lointaine. Erté builds exceptional depth in the two-dimensional artwork by playing with light and shadow, overlaying large boats atop each other. The distant cityscape, rendered in purples and reds against a vivid sunset sky, further adds to the drama of the composition. Following the release of the eponymous play by Edmond Rostand, the phrase la princesse lointaine came to refer to the archetype of an unattainable or distant princess, often symbolizing an idealized and unreachable love. Erté’s choice of colors mirrors the romantic elements of the play while creating a sense of scale that elevates the performance.

The alliance between Erté and Paris's vibrant performing arts scene 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.

Circa 1930

Paper: 10 1/2" high x 14 1/4" wide
Frame: 16 3/4" high x 20 3/4" wide x 5/8" deep

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

Provenance:
Private collection of Serge Leeman
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans