Première Dactylo by Erté

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

Première Dactylo (“First Typist”)

Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Stamped “Erté, Romain de Tirtoff” (en verso)
Inscribed “Première Dactylo” N°5994(en verso)
Gouache on paper

This original gouache from the creative mind of Erté entitled Première Dactylo embodies the Art Deco glamour and tongue-in-cheek artistry for which the artist’s designs are so beloved. Oft-called “Father of Art Deco,” this creative ensemble showcases Erté's clever imagination and fashion-forward sartorial genius. 

An Art Deco commentary on the new working woman, Erté's Première Dactylo or “First Typist,” is first in class with her secretarial skills. Wearing a simple black strapless sheath with an elegant crossed sash crafted from individual typewriter keys, Erté punctuates the ensemble with voluminous billowing pink sleeves that gather tightly at the wrist and a large bow at the neck. Erté's elegant model is crowned by a small fascinator hat crafted from a piece of paper marked with a line of copy. Erté’s striking color palette and creative play on the typewriter underscore his dazzlingly clever point of view and elevated sense of style.

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 Circa 1941

Paper: 14 1/4” high by 10 1/2” wide
Frame: 20 3/4” high by 16 7/8" wide by 3/4" 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