Premier 

This is Erte's "Premier," a work embodying the elegance of the Art Deco era. Born in Russia and working primarily in France, Erte's designs captured the zeitgeist of a rapidly changing world in the early 20th century. His androgynous figures and streamlined forms challenged conventional beauty standards, reflecting the era’s shifting gender roles. “Premier” presents a figure of serene confidence. Her clothing, with its bold geometries and stylized ornamentation, speaks to a desire for a sense of modernity. There is a deliberate simplification and stylization of the human form that moves away from traditional representations of femininity. Erte developed alternative narratives reflecting the dynamic changes of the early 20th century. This design hints at the evolving identities and experiences of women during this transformative period. It encapsulates the era's spirit of progress and its complex negotiation of identity.