Erte, the Russian born Romain de Tirtoff, named himself after the French pronunciation of his initials - this name soon became one of the most highly respected in the French fashion and theatre industries during the twentieth century. He produced
his first successful design when he was only six years of age and in 1912 he went to Paris where he worked with the fashion publication Harper's Bazaar, creating fashion drawings and cover designs. It was here that his artistic
career
flourished.
The
gloriously extravagant costumes he created for shows at the Folies-Bergere and his taste for the exotic and the romantic captured the attention of a wide audience and his inventive and colourful designs became
hugely
popular.
Due to the ever
expanding market for Erte's work, he began to create a series of colourful lithographs of luxurious illustrations to meet demands. These pieces, however, are originals and are particularly fine
examples of his
appreciation for
the sinuous
qualities of the female
figure and his flair for creating stylish, elegant and luxurious fashions.
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