The Russian born painter Romain De Tirtoff, who called himself Erte after the French pronunciation of his initials, was one of the foremost fashion and stage designers of the early 20th century. Erte pursued his chosen career with unflagging zest and creativity for almost 80 years. He is perhaps best remembered for the gloriously extravagant costumes and stage sets that he designed for the Foliers-Bergere in Paris and George White's Scandals in New York, which exploit to the fullest his taste for the exotic and romantic as well as his appreciation of the sinuous and lyrical human figure. Erte's characteristic style found a new and enthusiastic market in the 1960s and the artist responded to renewed demand by creating a series of colorful lithographic prints and sculpture.
 

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