Ganna Walska in Faust 

Editor: This drawing by Erte features Ganna Walska in what appears to be a costume from Faust. The lines are so clean and elegant; she almost seems like an illustration from a fairy tale. What catches your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to how Erte uses clothing, especially hats, as potent symbols. Look at the elaborate headwear. What figures come to mind, mythologically, ritually, or historically? Editor: I suppose the shape of her hat reminds me of medieval paintings, like a princess. Curator: Precisely! The head covering alters the perceived identity. She transcends her role as just Ganna Walska and embodies aspects of maidenhood and power associated with those archetypes, all while alluding to a specific operatic character. Then note how the dress, in muted tones, both reveals and conceals. Does this dynamic resonate with the themes present in "Faust"? Editor: That’s a great point. In "Faust," there's a constant struggle between appearance and reality, good and evil, concealment and revelation. I hadn't thought of how her clothing contributes to that! The vertical lines of the dress emphasize that struggle through contrasting columns of plain and decorated panels. Curator: And notice the cascade of her vibrant red hair. Throughout cultures, red hair carries symbolic weight connected to passion, strength, and sometimes otherness. Editor: Seeing all of these familiar symbols makes this piece more understandable; the emotional weight they bring emphasizes the artist's intended subject and gives me something to personally latch onto. Curator: Indeed. By recognizing these embedded cultural artifacts, the portrait gains multiple layers of interpretation, beyond just surface beauty or fashion. It speaks volumes about Erte's own dialogue with history.