The Golden Pearls 

Erte rendered "The Golden Pearls" as part of his prolific output of fashion and stage designs. The artist, born Romain de Tirtoff in Russia, found himself in Paris during the Belle Époque. In this piece, the artist’s fascination with the female form intertwines with the luxuriousness of the era. The woman, draped in strands of gold and gems, embodies a vision of opulence. The image can be read as an embrace of the feminine ideal of the time. This depiction, however, simultaneously challenges it by presenting a figure almost overwhelmed by her adornments, hinting at the constraints placed upon women by societal expectations. Erte’s style captures the period’s aesthetic while subtly questioning its underlying values.