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Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Russian, 1892-1990

Born Romain de Tirtoff (1892–1990) in St. Petersburg, Russia, to an aristocratic family, the artist known as Erté — a pseudonym derived from the French pronunciation of his initials — was a Renaissance man of the art and design world. He worked in graphic arts, interior design, fashion, jewelry and set design for the stage and silver screen, becoming a leader of the Art Deco style.

Moving to Paris in 1912, Erté worked as a fashion designer under couturier Paul Poiret before securing a job with Harper’s Bazaar as a cover artist. Over 22 years, Erté created more than 240 magazine covers alongside his ongoing work in fashion design.

Extending his prolific career into theater sets, costumes, prints and lithographs, Erté became one of the most famous artists of the era. His style — a combination of the nature-inspired flourishes of Art Nouveau and bold, geometric linework — directly contributed to the birth of Art Deco, earning him the nickname “the Father of Art Deco.”

After a lull of creative production in the 1940s and 1950s, Erté reentered the public eye in the 1960s, when a renewed interest in Art Deco had taken shape.

Creating colorful lithographs, bold serigraphs (silk-screen prints) and bronze sculptures, he contributed to a resurgence of the style in France and beyond. This late-life acclaim for his art led to exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world as well as his first published monograph in 1970. That same year he was awarded the title of Chevalier du Mérite Artistique et Cultural and in 1976 was named Officier des Arts et Lettres by the French government.

Today, Erté’s works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and LACMA in Los Angeles.

On 1stDibs, browse a collection of Erté art, including fine art prints, paintings and other works.

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Artist: Erté
La Traviata - Dancer of the Bohemian Ballet - 3rd Act - Drawing by Erté - 1948
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
La Traviata - Dancer of the Bohemian Ballet - 3rd Act is a modern artwork realized in 1948 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on ...
Category

1940s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Costume Design - Gouache by Erté - 1970
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Costume Design is an original modern artwork realized in 1970s by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower m...
Category

20th Century Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Elegant - Drawing by Erté - Mid-20th Century
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant is a modern artwork realized in the mid-20th Century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Stamp of the artist Includes frame Provenance : - Erté p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Tomorrow Afternoon - Drawing by Erté - 1951
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Tomorrow afternoon is a contemporary artwork realized in 1951 by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower margin. Titled and numbered "1...
Category

1950s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Scaramouche - Pierrette - Drawing by Erté - 1979
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Scaramouche - Pierrette is a contemporary artwork realized in 1979 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower margin. Titled an...
Category

1970s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

La Traviata - Clara - 1st Act - Drawing by Erté - 1951
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
La Traviata - Clara - 1st Act is a modern artwork realized in 1951 Century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on th...
Category

1950s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Costume Design - Gouache by Erté - 1970
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Costume Design is an original modern artwork realized in 1970s by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower m...
Category

20th Century Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Les Mamelles de Tirésias - Drawing by Erté - 1948
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Les Mamelles de Tirésias is an original modern artwork realized in 1948 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower margin. Includes frame Provenance : - Erté personal collection. - Serge Leeman collection. Erté is in charge for the costumes and sets for Les Mamelles de Tirésias. This opera bouffe in two acts by Francis Poulenc based on a play by Guillaume Apollinaire...
Category

1940s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Les Mamelles de Tirésias - Choriste - 2nd act - Drawing by Erté - 1947
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Les Mamelles de Tirésias - Choriste - 2nd act is a modern artwork realized in 1947 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower mar...
Category

1940s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

La Traviata - Rodolphe - 4th act - Drawing by Erté - 1948
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
La Traviata - Rodolphe - 4th act is a modern artwork realized in 1948 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on...
Category

1940s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

Traviata - Rodolphe - 2nd act - Drawing by Erté - 1948
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Traviata - Rodolphe - 2nd act is a modern artwork realized in 1948 century by Erté (Romain de Tirtoff). Mixed colored gouache on paper. Hand signed on the lower margin. Titled and numbered "9893" on the back. Includes frame Provenance : - Erté personal collection. - Serge Leeman collection. Erté is responsible for the costumes and sets for Les Mamelles de Tirésias. This opera bouffe in two acts by Francis Poulenc based on a play by Guillaume Apollinaire...
Category

1940s Art Deco Erté Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

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Erté portrait drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Erté portrait drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Erté in gouache, paint, watercolor and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Art Deco style. Not every interior allows for large Erté portrait drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jean Cocteau, James Stroudley, and Antonio Lopez. Erté portrait drawings and watercolors prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,224 and tops out at $4,173, while the average work can sell for $3,075.

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