study for a stage set; black ground with square element in center bottom; trapezoid shaped element at left and right in each top corner; elements may be collage/pasted to backing sheet; each of four elements has light green ground with different types of colorful fish, blue waves and multicolored sea plants; stylized woman inside a seashell with a pearl above her head in LRC of square--tan stylized standing woman with arms and hair extending upward as sea plants in LLC of square; four holes at top of sheet

%C2%A9 Estate of Ert%C3%A9 %28Romain de Tirtoff%29%2C Artists Rights Society %28ARS%29%2C New York %2F ADAGP%2C Paris

Fond de la Mer Décor, 1946

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Erté is sometimes called the “Father of Art Deco.” His elegant fantasies left their mark on many fields, among them the theater, including stage revues of the kind familiar from old Hollywood extravaganzas. This whimsical set design places the action at the bottom of the sea. Erté emphasizes the water’s depth by placing the two side views high up on the wall. In the deeper center section, the color of the water transitions from light green to blue. Coral, fish, and seaweed populate the scene. Closer inspection reveals two showgirls, one dressed as exotic seaweed and the other as a scallop shell filled with pearls.

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Details
Title
Fond de la Mer Décor
Artist Life
(born Russia), 1892-1990
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2014.84
Provenance
[Princess Cruises Fine Arts, until 2005; sold to Thelen]; Robert Thelen, Cold Springs, Minn (2005-14; given to MIA)
Curator Approved

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study for a stage set; black ground with square element in center bottom; trapezoid shaped element at left and right in each top corner; elements may be collage/pasted to backing sheet; each of four elements has light green ground with different types of colorful fish, blue waves and multicolored sea plants; stylized woman inside a seashell with a pearl above her head in LRC of square--tan stylized standing woman with arms and hair extending upward as sea plants in LLC of square; four holes at top of sheet

© Estate of Erté (Romain de Tirtoff), Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

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