Le Carnet de Bal by Erté

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

Le Carnet de Bal
The Dance Card

Signed “Erté”(lower right)
Inscribed "No. 4595" (en verso)
Gouache on paper

This colorful composition by Erté showcases his tongue-in-cheek artistry and sartorial brilliance. The title of this ensemble, Le Carnet de Bal, translates to "The Dance Card" in English. Traditionally, a dance card served as a booklet for women to note the names of gentlemen with whom they planned to dance at formal events and connotes a sense of piety and formal courtship. Erté subverts this convention by painting his model with an exposed upper torso and an extended list of dances — ranging from the polka to the cancan and the waltz. In line with the Surrealist trends of the era, the model defies traditional norms. She is attired in an orange sash, fuchsia footwear, gloves and a mask-embellished headpiece. Complementing her expansive dance card, she brandishes a staff festooned with a large orange bow, which is linked to her belt. Exuding avant-garde sophistication, this ensemble would have been a captivating addition to one of Paris's illustrious cabaret shows.

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 1939

Paper: 14 1/2” high by 10 1/2” wide
Frame: 20 3/4” high by 16 7/8” 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:
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans