Time travel
Today we welcome the return of Anu and Ashok to our group of the Loose Blogging consortium which includes Conrad, Gaelikaa, Ginger, Judy, Magpie 11, Maria, Ramana and I, and most of us will pen our thoughts on the topic for the week, chosen today by Judy.
“If I could travel in Time, I would……..”
“Look at me, I’m in another world - a dream world that invites oblivion. People take drugs to achieve such freedom from their daily cares. I’ve never taken drugs. I’ve never needed them. I achieve a high through work.” ~ Erté
If I could travel in Time, I would like to go back…. Back in time to the world of Erté.
He was born Romain de Tirtoff in Saint Petersberg but liked to call himself Erté after the French pronunciation of his initials. Destined for a military career, Erté surprised a number of people by creating his first successful costume design at the age of five.
In 1912, some say at the age of 14, others say19, his father finally allowed him to move to Paris to fulfil his dream of becoming a fashion illustrator. He was one of the foremost fashion and stage designers of the early 20th century.
His time in Paris covered a stint in the Haute couture house of Paul Poiret and a twenty-two-year association with Harper’s bazaar to the beginning of World War II. During that period, Erte produced 250 covers for Bazaar; innumerable drawings for the magazine’s pages; fashion designs for some of the world’s most glamorous women; costume and set designs for Hollywood movies and stage productions ranging from scenes in Ziegfeld Follies of 1923, many productions of the Folies-Bergere and the Paris Opera. George White’s Scandals followed in 1988.
Erté pursued his chosen careers with zest and creativity for almost 80 years. His appreciation of the sinuous and lyrical human figure was amazing, as well as the music-hall, Erté also designed for the traditional theatre.
Erté began a second career when he met London art dealer Eric Estorick in 1967. Impressed by the superb work in the artist’s Paris studio, Estorick was determined to relaunch Erté’s career. This effort was crowned with spectacular success in New York and London exhibitions of gouache paintings and drawings. The demand for his work by not only those able to afford originals but young people of limited means was too large to be satisfied by the existing works. This led to the decision to create multiples - first graphics and, later, bronze sculptures.
During the twenty-five years of Erté’s second career he achieved again the level of fame that he had in an earlier generation, but with an even wider public. Those years saw also the publication of many books on Erté’s work, including two large-format books on the graphics, “Erte at Ninety” and “Erte at Ninety-Five”, and one on the sculpture “Erte Sculpture”. By far, his best known image is Symphony in Black depicting a tall, slender woman draped in black holding a thin black dog on a leash. The influential image has been reproduced and copied countless times.
His work may be found in the collections of several well-known museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a sizable collection of work by Erté can be found at Museum 1999 in Tokyo.
On his death in 1990, he was hailed as the “prince of the music hall” and “a mirror of fashion for 75 years”.
The genius of Erté
bikehikebabe said,
March 5, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Oh, Gee whiz WOW This is the BEST Friday Consortium post yet! Loved the U-tube video.
I love to see high fashion, like seen in some of the reality TV programs showing designing, sewing & runway viewing & The Zoe Project.
Love the skinny models showing beautiful (& strange) clothes.
I went to an annual dinner Wed. & I was the only one the least bit dressed up. Everyone else had on slacks & whatever old thing.
Rummuser said,
March 5, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Grannymar, I am stumped for the first time. I just do not know anything about the subject!
Grannymar said,
March 5, 2010 at 4:28 pm
BHB - Erté was a man before his time.
Ramana - You mean there is one subject that I know more about than you do?
Nick said,
March 5, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Someone I know very little about, but he was clearly very talented. Symphony In Black is amazing.
Conrad said,
March 5, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Wow! You do it again.
It strikes me after reading this that one practical way to travel in time is to travel in space to individuals and cultures. I could be sitting with you now and you could be taking me back in time to Erté and we could walk your countryside to see what I imagine to have a feeling of more ancient roots than mine displays.
Until that happens, I will happily travel in my mind and via the internet with gratitude for learning of a special individual I had no awareness of whatever!
Maria said,
March 5, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I first saw Erte’s graphics at the Albert and Victoria Museum and then just a few summers ago at the Metropolitan Museum when I spent a week in New York City. I am totally fascinated by the scope of this man’s artistic talent.
Back in the day, there was a wonderful “art deco” two story restaurant in Minneapolis called The Forum. My mother often took me there for lunch when I was a teen-ager. It had many poster of Erte’s Harper Bizarre covers on the walls. You have taken me back in time in such a nice way.
bikehikebabe said,
March 5, 2010 at 7:27 pm
I didn’t notice until the 2nd time, that some of the figures form letters & numbers.
gaelikaa said,
March 5, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Thanks for sharing that. That is amazing. I never heard of him before and I can’t believe I didn’t. I had to say the alphabet in French from memory to realise who Mr. RT was. Erte indeed. BTW, how do you get the grave/fada sign in your keyboard. I haven’t got one in mine!
Darlene said,
March 5, 2010 at 8:18 pm
I remember Erte’s drawings and was always drawn to them. I love the way he incorporated the human figure (always slender, you notice) into letters and numbers. Exotic is the word that comes to mind when I think of Erte’s art.
bikehikebabe said,
March 5, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Erotic is “the word that comes to mind when I” see some of Erte’s art.
bikehikebabe said,
March 5, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Maria’s comments require credentials that I don’t have. (Maria, you look like aunt Grace. I loved the post.)
And gaelikaa my computer says it can’t find you, but has in the past.???
Baino said,
March 5, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Well there you go. I recognised the art but never knew anything about the artist. Gorgeous things aren’t they?
Grannymar said,
March 5, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Nick - Of all the people we studied and explored for the City & Guilds, Creative Embroidery course, Erté left the greatest impression on me.
Conrad - I look forward to the day we travel the highways and byways of the REAL Ireland together, no doubt somewhere along the journey we will discover family connections.
Maria - You are a kindred spirit! I am glad to rekindle the memories for you.
BHB - The letters and numbers are very elegant!
Grannymar said,
March 5, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Gaelikaa - The symbols and accents are available in Wordpress, but otherwise I find them in Word by clicking on Insert and then symbols and copy and paste as needed.
Darlene - There seems to be a revival here right now with notelets, cards and calendars all available.
BHB - Exotic and erotic are both good discriptions.
Baino - They are gorgeous and some very up to date today.
Judy Harper said,
March 6, 2010 at 2:03 am
I have seen the pictures before, but I didn’t know the artist’s name. Very interesting post!
Rummuser said,
March 6, 2010 at 4:49 am
Grannymar, both of know that there are more than just one subject about which you know more than I do. Modesty does not become you!
Grannymar said,
March 6, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Judy - There seems to be a revival of interest in Erté’s work.
Ramana - I was not being modest, just honest.
Ashok said,
March 7, 2010 at 8:02 am
If not for your post, I would be ignorant of Erte. I am truly greatful
Grannymar said,
March 7, 2010 at 8:19 am
Ashok - Erté was from a world very different to yours. I hope you enjoyed journeying back with me.