Zeus 

Curator: Erte's striking "Zeus" drawing presents us with a potent visual, even if the precise date of its creation remains unknown. The artist uses line and poster-like art deco styles to depict the ruler of the Gods. What are your first impressions? Editor: Imposing, almost theatrically so! The figure seems to float on a patterned surface, an ocean perhaps? There’s something ritualistic about the stylized drapery and the rigid posture; the figure of Zeus evokes a grand stage production more than a candid portrayal. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the historical context: Erte, or Romain de Tirtoff, worked extensively in theater and fashion. This informs his rendering of Zeus. His style borrows from early twentieth-century fascination with the Orient and the perceived exoticism that came along with it, a kind of orientalism interpreted through art deco aesthetics. Editor: You know, the lightning bolts clutched in Zeus's hand and even the regal staff feel less about divine power and more about constructed authority. Look at the robe: those circular patterns echo through time, from Minoan frescos to something seen in a movie palace. I also notice he’s wearing bracelets—what do those additions contribute? Curator: Those echoes are fascinating. To think about gender performativity and representation in ancient depictions of Zeus, against the historical reception to Erte’s gender expression and its relationship to art-deco trends can speak to some of our current gender politics through both the lens of social trends and historic mythologies. I think we also need to acknowledge Erte’s orientalism because it highlights colonial power imbalances inherent to his European gaze. Editor: Right, the circles have certainly gained new meaning over centuries. Thinking about bracelets in general—jewelry functions as amulets of protection but also markers of identity, announcing status or belonging. Here, the adornments soften Zeus's perceived masculinity within an ancient, heteronormative pantheon. This creates tension! Curator: I see it—a very important collision that can guide viewers into reinterpreting old narratives within the contemporary, intersectional social contexts of identity. Thanks for pointing that out. Editor: My pleasure. Looking at this image offers new depth through time to old signifiers, don’t you think?