When 20 year old Romain de Tirtoff left Russia to move to Paris, his parent disapproved. They wanted him to join the Navy. As a gesture not to offend them, he decided to used a pseudonym as an artist - βErtΓ©β (his initials RT as pronounced in French).
Erte became a master of Art Deco. He designed costumes and sets for the theater, opera, and the Folies Bergere. His illustrations were featured on the covers on over 240 issues of Harper Bazaar Magazine.
Erte worked briefly in Hollywood, designing costumes for six films including the 1925 silent production of βBen Hurβ. Afterwards, Erte asked to be released from his contract and he returned to Paris.
Erte was devastated at the death of Prince Nicholas Ourousoff in 1933 - they had been lovers and together for 20 years.
In the 1960s he had a career resurgence with the revival of Art Deco. Erte became very successful in the collectible art print market - issuing innumerable limited edition lithographs, statues, jewelry, and even liquor bottles.
Erte published βThings I Rememberβ, his autobiography, in 1975. While describing his art career, he also catalogued his homosexual through his life. Here he revealed a second serious lover who he only identified as Axel (a champion Danish swimmer and decorator).
Erte was not tortured by his sexuality. βI wasted very little energy in trying to fight my own nature, even less in punishing myself with feelings of guilt.β
ErtΓ© died in his Parisian home on April 21, 1990, at the age of 98.
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