Acte II Scène IV pour La Traviata by Erté

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Acte II Scène IV pour La Traviata Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "No. 4099 / La Traviata / Acte II / Scène IV / Composition originale" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté served as set designer for two renditions of La Traviata, an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi that first premiered in 1853 and remained a staple in the European operatic repertoire. Given the era’s burgeoning modernism and political upheaval, the opera’s narrative of love, sacrifice and societal conventions resonated differently, offering solace and escapism. This 1937 set design for Act II Scène IV of the timeless production allowed audiences to be transported to Paris of the early 19th century. The alliance between Erté and the vibrant performing arts scene of Paris transported audiences to new heights throughout the early 20th century. Erté emerged as an unmatched and emblematic creative force whose visionary designs were imbued with an otherworldly a