Première porteuse d'oiseaux by Erté

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

Porteuse d'oiseaux (First Bird Carrier)

Signed “Erté”(lower right)
Inscribed "No. 15.452" (en verso)
Gouache on paper

This original gouache masterpiece titled Porteuse d'oiseaux invites viewers to step into the whimsical world of Erté. Often hailed as the "Father of Art Deco," This radiant piece exemplifies Erté's pioneering design sensibilities, melding his fascination for animal-themed attire with the opulence of Art Deco aesthetics. 

  In this mesmerizing artwork, Erté embraces a bird-centric motif. Central to the scene is a scantily-clad woman, radiating with self-assuredness and might. Enhancing her commanding presence is a horn-like headpiece crafted from flowing tiger skin, elegantly cascading down her back, epitomizing raw power and majesty. Twin parrots alight on a staff that spans her shoulders, infusing the scene with lively hues and energy. The tableau is further enriched by striking green and red parrots, feathers unfurled and taking flight, weaving a narrative of terrestrial strength juxtaposed with the liberty of the skies. This remarkable design once resided in the private collection of Hélène Martini, the famed director of the Folies Bergères and a close personal friend of Erté. In fact, following the artist’s death in 1990, he left his entire art collection to Martini.

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 1959

Paper: 14 1/2” 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:
Serge Leeman, Paris
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans