Ivresse, Griserie by Erté

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

Ivresse, Griserie
(“Drunkenness, Tipsy”)

Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Inscribed 16390/23 ZA (en verso)
Gouache on paper

A unique work in Erté’s illustrious oeuvre, this gouache composition entitled Ivresse, Griserie or drunkenness or tipsy, features an abstracted figure rendered in a few spare lines seated at a dining table set with five filled champagne glasses. Erté paints this striking gouache against a deep black background, making the items arranged on the white tablecloth pop with intensity. This bold composition exudes the quintessential elegance and drama that only Erté, the oft-called “Father of Art Deco,” could achieve.

A playful composition celebrating revelry, this work was painted for Bal Tabarin, a prominent cabaret. As the title suggests, the lone diner at the table appears to have whetted his palette in excess, causing him to enter a hazy trance. The smoke rising from his cigarette appears to take the form of a woman — a sort of smoldering fairy taking flight from the swirling cloud. The table is punctuated by other apropos Art Deco accoutrements including etched tumbler glasses and a period candelabra crowned by winged angels.

Founded in 1904 by musician Auguste Bosc, Bal Tabarin rose to prominence as one of the most popular Parisian cabarets of the Belle Époque era. Renowned for its extravagant entertainment offerings and bohemian clientele, the Bal Tabarin attracted luminary performances from the likes of Josephine Baker, Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier. Beyond its live acts, the cabaret gained silver screen recognition and was featured in films like "Moulin Rouge" (1952) and "Funny Face" (1957). Although the Bal Tabarin shuttered its doors in 1967, its legacy endures as a cultural cornerstone in Paris’ lustrous creative scene. 

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. 

Circa 1938

Paper: 7 3/4” high by 7 1/2” wide
Frame: 13 1/4” high by 12 7/8” wide by 3/4" deep

Provenance:
Erté’s collection, Boulogne 1990
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans