Dancers 

Curator: Erte’s ink, graphite, and pencil drawing on paper, entitled "Dancers," offers us an interesting view into the artist’s process. Editor: It strikes me as rather ethereal, almost like a faded memory or a scene playing out on an ancient Greek vase. The figures seem suspended in time. Curator: Yes, look at the deliberate use of line and shading, see how they convey motion. I find it remarkable how Erte achieves a sense of depth with minimal contrast and such sparse application of materials. One might even argue that the chosen media contributes to this depiction. Editor: And observe the repetition of the dancer motif; a figure striding with arms outstretched. They appear silhouetted, becoming almost iconic in their rendering. Note the flowing drapery that gives the impression of movement. Doesn’t that evoke something deeper, like the cyclical nature of time and fate? Curator: Perhaps. Or is it simply a design choice to create a pattern? This image hints at a pre-production phase; an exploratory sketch used as the basis for other art. Consider that drawing allowed for accessible production by many more studios at the time; an alternative medium outside of conventional modes of artmaking. Editor: Perhaps there's a dual symbolism there. Each dancer's pose echoes throughout, almost resembling the Fates weaving destiny’s thread, that connected hair to linear structure, suggesting narratives and linking ideas of what will and already has passed. The maze on top could evoke labyrinths and confusion, which gives us food for thought when considering the context of dance in society. Curator: A lot to read from just an idle doodle! Erte certainly provides more than one plane to view the piece. Editor: Agreed. The dialogue between the fleeting nature of the drawing itself and the enduring symbols makes this a very thought-provoking artwork.