Grand ara bleu et jaune by Erté

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Grand ara bleu et jaune (Blue and Yellow Great Macaw) Signed “Erté” (lower right) Gouache on paper Erté adds a touch of his trademark whimsy to this alluring cabaret costume entitled Grand ara bleu et jaune. The model dons a fanned and feathered headpiece, while her hands hold effigies of the eponymous blue and yellow macaws. Her seductive costume, showcasing a sunny yellow palette with bursts of vibrant blue, is framed by the long braids cascading from her head. Captured on film in archival footage from the Bal Tabarin, the bold and colorful design showcases Erté’s nature-inspired artistic visions. The nightlife of the Art Deco period was a bold expression of the times, synthesizing time-honored entertainment traditions with a new modernist spirit in a dazzling dance of light, sound and movement. Paris’ cabarets, particularly in the Montmartre and Montparnasse districts, hosted spirited performances, with establishments like the