Erte is perhaps the most famous artist of the contemporary art world. A Russian-born prodigy who helped reshape the modern scope of haute couture, Erte's sculptures, paintings and illustrations adorn the halls of some of the most prestigious galleries, museums and private collections on Earth. It is with great pride and honor that we at Greg Lane Fine Arts present some of his work amidst our collection.
Romain de Tirtoff (Erte) was born in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The only child of an affluent and socially elite couple, young Tirtoff enjoyed a comfortable childhood. At the early age of five, he foreshadowed his success as one of the 20th century's most prolific costume designers by creating his very first garment--and it was just the beginning. In the future, he would not just create fashion, but sculptures that captured the elemental grace of fashion.
After moving to Paris at the age of 18, Romain de Tirtoff decided to change his name by combining the two initials of his name. The acronym R.T. soon evolved into Erte. Not long after landing in Paris, Erte found work as a fashion illustrator and spent most of his days sketching haute couture. This time served as an informal education for the young artist, who soon began creating couture images of his own. His background in couture influenced both the subject matter and the style of his numerous sculptures.
Today, Erte's work can be found in many prestigious museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Erte sculptures naturally echo many of the themes of his famous serigraphs. A celebration of fashion and the female form, his sculptures feature elegantly elongated limbs, draping clothes, and a sense of sophisticated whimsy. Working largely in bronze, Erte created sculptures that reflect a variety of different eras, fashions, and women, but all convey a timeless beauty amid a modern aesthetic. At Greg Lane Fine Arts, we're proud to feature a vast selection of Erte serigraphs and lithographs in addition to original gouaches for our clients' private enjoyment.