Les filles final by Erté

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff)
1892-1990 | Russian-French

Les filles final
(The Final Girls)

Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Inscribed No. 18.340 (en verso)
Gouache on paper

An elaborate design for a dazzling grand finale, this daring costume features a rainbow-hued feather boa bustle complete with batons — and little else. With this risqué ensemble, a talented showgirl could wield her colorful feathered train to command an audience’s attention. This bold and feminine look embodies the Art Deco glamour for which the Erté's designs are so beloved. The elegant composition exudes the quintessential opulence and drama that only Erté, the oft-called “Father of Art Deco,” could achieve.

Entitled Les filles final, Erté renders his nearly-nude star with show-stopping features, complete with a sparkling collar necklace and crowned by a unique architectural headpiece. Erté designed this costume as the piece-de-resistance for a show at the Casino de Paris, a renowned music hall with a rich history dating back to the 18th century. Following the First World War, the Casino de Paris emerged as one of Paris' most beloved music halls, graced by performances from luminaries such as Josephine Baker, Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich, and through the following decades it has remained an iconic hub for rich nightlife, music and entertainment. The Casino de Paris was renowned for its dazzling burlesque performance and over-the-top cabaret shows and this beautiful costume certainly meets the moment with its rainbow of feathery stoles.

Russian-French visionary Romain de Tirtoff (1892-1990), popularly known as Erté, began his artistic journey in the culturally rich city of St. Petersburg, where he developed an early fondness for ballet and theatrical performances. He moved to Paris in 1912 to study architecture, and quickly found his creative niche in crafting fantastical costumes for the city’s bustling nightlife. Erté‘s expertise, refined under the guidance of the famed Paul Poiret, captured the attention of Harper’s Bazaar, marking the beginning of a significant partnership that spanned from 1915 to 1936. The artist also designed sets for notable cinematic masterpieces including Ben Hur and La Bohème, and created sets and costumes for cabarets, operas and other performances at the Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, the Théâtre du Bataclan and Le Casino de Paris. Often remembered as the “Father of Art Deco,” Erté was a trailblazer whose colorful creations shaped the groundbreaking Art Deco era more than any other, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art and design. His artworks reside in prestigious museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 

Dated 1974

Paper: 15” high by 11” wide
Frame: 20 3/4” high by 16 7/8” wide by 3/4" deep

Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans