Artist of the week: Erte
ARTinvestment.RU   06 июня 2013

8 Jun 2013 the auction house Bailly-Pommery & Voutier (Paris) holds 1-й auction of works from the collection of Helen Martini, including about 1,000 drawings Erte (1892-1990)

I live in another world, the world of dreams that brings oblivion.
Erte

June 8, 2013 Auction House Bailly-Pommery & Voutier (Paris) holds 1st auction of works from the collection of Helen Martini , including nearly 1,000 drawings Erte (1892-1990). At the upcoming auction will feature about 300 pictures of this amazing artist called nothing less than a father of Art Deco , well known in the West, and, unfortunately, we have almost forgotten ( Erte paintings in the auction catalog, click here ).

Erte, and in fact - Roman P. Tyrtov (a pseudonym, later to become known throughout the world, was formed from the first letters of transcription and last name: "er" and "te") was born on November 23, 1892 in St. Petersburg Head of the family of Marine Engineering College, Lieutenant General Pyotr Tyrtova fleet, a descendant of an old Russian family, famous in the history of Russia from the XVI century.

rosshey higher in the atmosphere of an aristocratic Russian society, the boy felt early secular charm shine, intuitively drawn to the beautiful, interested in art. It is known that he painted evening gowns as early as the age of six, and the memories, it made a strong impression Persian miniatures found in the library of his father: clear, fine lines and bright color patterns and designs rocked the young artist.

Systematic arts education he received, but was always interested in art. It is known that in 1906, 14-year-old Roman Tyrtov took lessons from I. Repin at the Academy of Fine Arts of St. Petersburg, along the way learning to dance with the daughter of Maurice Petipa. Later, he had to choose between dance and drawing: I came to the conclusion that I can not live without dancing, but I can not give up his passion for painting and drawing.

In 1907 he went to Paris, and we can not say that the year he spent there, he went to waste: I discovered Beardsley until you have lived in Paris for a year .

Already in 1910 he returned to Paris to start a career as a designer - albeit against the wishes of the family, who wished for his traditional Military paths. To settle in Paris allowed him to position the St. Petersburg correspondent of the magazine "Women fashion».

In less than 20 years, in 1912 Erte starts cooperation with fashion designer Paul Poiret (1879-1944). In the history of fashion Poiret name associated with the creation of youth style. In the years 1890-1910 he advocated a return to the ancient fashion, introduced the fashion of a kimono in Europe, as well as proposed shirting cut a woman's dress without a corset. In the free, flowing lines of models Poiret Erte saw the perfect embodiment of his aesthetic aspirations. Creative blows from Poiret brings young promising artists resounding acclaim. His clients of becoming famous women of that time, already in 1913, he created the costumes for most of Mata Hari. In parallel with the work of the artist in 1914, studying at the Academy of R. Julien in Paris, a private academy of Arts, made famous in the history of art in that it was founded by graduates of its famous band "Nabi».

In 1915-1916 years, he began working with fashion magazines: making sketches for Harper's Bazaar (22 years, until 1937, was created about 250 covers), as well as drawings for Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Sketch and other magazines United States, England and France. In 1921, the artist presents to the world a revolutionary fashion model dress with an asymmetrical neckline, and he is credited with the invention of clothes, the same for men and women, so-called style "unisex».

Erte Design jackets for Harper's Bazaar. 1921 Paper, ink, pen and gouache. 30,5 x 24 Sotheby's. 29.11.2005. Lot 137 Estimate: 1 500-2 000 pounds Result: 1800 lbs Source: artinvestment.ru

Erte Cosmetics. Cover of Harper's Bazaar March 1934. Approx. 1933 Gouache on paper. 51 x 40 Christie's. 02.12.1999. Lot 678 Estimate: 8 000-12 000 dollars Result: 13 800 dollars Source: christies.com

style of his later works, in which the combined effect of the strongest then artistic movements from modern to Cubism to be called art deco (the term "art deco" was derived in 1925 by French architect Le Corbusier , joining in an article for the magazine "The New Spirit» (L'Esprite Nouveau) the words "decorative art» (Arts Décoratifs) in a single word, which also became the name of the style). Erte himself even claimed that Art Deco, of course, it will affect each other Cubism and Art Nouveau.

Erte Diamond dancer. 1927 cardboard, pencil, ink and gouache. 38,5 x 28,5 Macdougall. 25.11.2012. Lot 339 Estimate: 2 800-3 500 pounds Result: 4020 lbs Source: macdougallauction.com

Erte Beatrice mannequin. Costume Gouache on paper. 36 x 26. Sothebys. 10.06.2008. Lot 265 Estimate: 5 000-7 000 pounds Result: 12,500 pounds Source: artinvestment.ru

Erte believed that the duty of every person - make themselves as attractive as possible. He said that although not many of us are born with beautiful, but the clothes can turn a man into the embodiment of beauty or ugliness. Erte costume designs created most of his life, not limiting ourselves with women's fashion magazines and clothes. From the very early age he was interested in dance, drama, movement. Work on stage costumes Erte's career began almost before collaboration with fashion magazines. His costumes worn by Anna Pavlova and Sarah Bernhardt. He has worked for the "Russian Seasons" Diaghilev. 1920-30-ies Erte filled movement: he embodies their ideas in sketches for ballet troupes, variety shows, music hall and cinema. It was at this period is the peak of popularity of the artist.

Erte The fourth lady with the lamp. Costume design for the production of "Venice of the XVIII century." Cabaret "Folies Bergere", Paris. 1919 Gouache on paper. 45,7 x 27,9 Sotheby's. 30.11.2010. Lot 188 Estimate: 5 000-7 000 pounds Result: 18,750 pounds Source: sothebys.com

Erte Costume design for the play" London Symphony ". Theatre "Palladium", London. Approx. 1938 Gouache on paper. 37 x 27 Christie's. 11.04.2002. Lot 71 Estimate: 800-1 200 pounds Result: 1020 lbs Source: christies.com

In the period between the two world wars, it also works on costumes and scenery for the opera, theater and ballet in Paris, Monte Carlo, New York and Chicago. He is immensely popular in all the music halls in Europe - working on the costumes for the "Folies Bergere" to show "Casino de Paris" and London's "Palladium". For Hollywood studio "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" in 1925, he makes the costumes for the movie "Ben Hur" and "La Boheme».

His signature style is well-known and popular throughout the world. In his subtle, closed silhouettes on a graceful, flying his models form the world of fashion, luxury and glamor of the secular coming decades will be in them, and to draw ideas. His work is decorative, line honed and transparent so that, in its ornamental rather close to the decorative arts, than to pure graphics.

Erte loved more than any other graphics techniques, is a big part of it works - gouache, sometimes watercolors on paper. However, he was known for its ability to experiment in new directions. Remember that he dabbled in the oil, although, of course, preferred tempera on paper, at times he designed jewelry, lamps, furniture, or even the interior.

was only 75 years of age Erte seriously decided to try out a new technology and produced a series of lithographs and silkscreen. In the introduction to the book "Erte, 95", published for the anniversary of the artist, he explained his new passion as: It was noted that this schedule will allow to touch my work is much larger audience than at trade shows . Gone theater productions and music halls, lost a lot of sketches of costumes and today Erte known to the general public precisely because of its series of lithographs, "Jewels," "Zodiac," "Seven Deadly Sins" and, of course, the "Alphabet".

Erte Series" Alphabet »(L. 76-101). Portfolio of 26 color stencil prints and lithographs. 1976 Screen printing. 40 x 699,4 Bonhams. 19.04.2009. Lot 7082 Estimate, 10 000-15 000 dollars result, 17,080 dollars Source: artinvestment.ru

Erte Monaco (E. 16). 1990 Bronze, height 52 cm Bonhams. 12.02.2012. Lot 7158 Estimate: 2 000-3 000 dollars Result: 4000 dollars Source: bonhams.com

And when he was 82, he decided to come to grips with sculpture and jewelry manufacturing, and even playing cards and interior based on his early drawings in the Art Deco style.

Erte Light. Approx. 1985 Decorative glass, enamel, gilding, marble base, with backlight. Height 57.2 cm Bonhams. 05.10.2010. Lot 4148 Estimate: 1 500-2 000 dollars Result: 3965 dollars Source: artinvestment.ru

Erte Ocean I (Bowl) 1985 Bronze. 26,7 x 26,7 Bonhams. 12.02.2012. Lot 7154 Result: $ 1,750 Source: bonhams.com

Erte died in Paris at age 97 on April 21 1990, to the end of remaining true to oneself: the design of a coffin, and the invitations to his own funeral, he developed himself, in his favorite style of Art Deco.

Despite the fact that the peak of its fame occurred in the period between the two wars, Erte experienced several waves of popularity in his long life. One of the most important milestones in his career began in 1965 when he met with collectors Eric and Salome Estorick, the founders of the world-renowned agency Seven Arts. This agency owned exclusive rights to the work Erte until his death, and it organized a grand exhibition, which raised a new level of interest in his work. The first one took place in 1967 at the Metropolitan Museum. Av 1969-1973 solo exhibitions of the artist held in Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Parma, Milan, Rome, Palermo. And to the end of life, the artist did not need the money by selling their works in a year than one hundred thousand dollars.

Erte works are in major museums around the world. A large number of them are present on the international art market: in the database ARTinvestment.RU has a record of nearly 1800 of his works, among them the chart (her, by the way, the vast majority - more than 1200), sculpture, printmaking, painting, collage, ceramics and jewelery.

Moreover, all of Erte still relatively accessible. At the auction of his paintings go on average range from a few hundred to 03.04 euros. The highest price to date - 21,600 pounds - paid for drawing "Princess Budur al Budur" (1928) for the magazine "Aladdin" at the auction the auction house Sotheby's November 11, 1996. But in the global art market began to promote Erte not very long ago - in the early 2000s, and the process is accelerated pace: shareware, $ 100 invested in its work in early 2010, by now turned into a 142 dollar.

main peaks rising of Erte occurred in 2005, 2008 and 2011, despite the crisis and the slowdown of the market. Rising price of his graphic work today.

on upcoming auction in Paris will feature works of 1940-50 years, the organizers of the fun left at last, and may well be of Erte this fall will present We record surprises and finally beat the record price for a long-living.

Maria Kuznetsova, AI

Sources : erte.ru , americanfineartgallery.com , helium.com , britannica.com , nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru