Hindu Princess, 1919

"Hindu Princess" is a gouache on paper board painting created by Erté in 1919 for a theatrical production. The artwork is signed 'Erté' center right and is inscribed on the back "Princesse Hindoue-1919, Theatre Apollo Paris" in pen. The artwork ships framed in a custom closed-corner Art Deco frame and has a framed size of 20.75 x 20.75".

Romain de Tirtoff, known as Erté, was one of the defining designers of the Art Deco era. Working across fashion illustration, stage and costume design, sculpture, and graphic arts, he developed a style marked by elegance, symmetry, and theatrical imagination. “Hindu Princess,” created in 1919 for a production at the Théâtre Apollo in Paris, is a striking example of his early stage work and a rare original gouache from this formative period.

The composition presents a frontal female figure with arms extended, enveloped in a costume of radiant symmetry. A monumental golden orange skirt spreads outward in winglike form, decorated with rhythmic ovoid and dotted motifs in jade, white, and black. The bodice and body suit are trimmed with delicate beadlike detailing that elongates the silhouette. Crowning the figure is an elaborate headdress composed of vertical black and white coils with pendant orange extensions, recalling stylized temple forms and imagined Eastern regalia. The result is regal, sculptural, and theatrical, transforming the figure into a stage goddess or queen.

Designed for a lavish 1919 production at the Théâtre Apollo, the costume reflects the period’s fascination with exoticism and fantasy. Erté did not pursue historical accuracy but instead filtered cultural references through a modern decorative vocabulary. The design becomes an archetype rather than a literal representation, merging geometry, ornament, and drama into a cohesive visual statement. This synthesis of stylization and spectacle exemplifies the emerging Art Deco aesthetic.

Original gouaches from the 1910s tied to Parisian productions are increasingly rare. This work offers direct insight into Erté’s early contribution to interwar theater and his role in shaping modern stage imagery. The symmetry, luminous palette, and refined line demonstrate his mastery of both costume and composition.

In 1987, Erté revisited this design as a limited edition serigraph “The Hindu Princess,” underscoring its enduring importance within his oeuvre. “Hindu Princess” stands as both a historical document and an autonomous work of art, capturing the moment when theatrical fantasy and modern design converged. It remains a vivid testament to Erté’s ability to transform performance into timeless visual poetry.