The Kiss 

Editor: We're looking at "The Kiss" by Erte, rendered in ink on paper. It's a striking silhouette of a woman. I am immediately drawn to the decorative style. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider Erte's artistic choices through a materialist lens. This isn’t just a stylish sketch, it is tied to a specific historical context: the rise of commercial art and mass production in the early 20th century. How do you think Erte’s background as a costume and set designer influenced his use of line and form? Editor: Well, the emphasis on the silhouette and the strong outlines definitely feels very graphic and reproducible. I guess I never really considered how set design experience might play into a drawing on paper like this. Curator: Exactly! The elegant lines, the use of a readily available and easily reproduced medium like ink on paper...it all points to the democratization of art through print media. Erte was creating imagery for a consumer culture, where his designs could be easily transferred onto magazines, posters, and clothing patterns. Think about how the fashion industry drove the demand for such images. The decorative shoe is really a testament to that commercial intent. Editor: So, by simplifying the forms and using readily available materials, he made his art more accessible? It’s almost like he’s mass-producing the idea of luxury. Curator: Precisely. It challenges the traditional notion of the artist as solely a creator of unique, precious objects. Here, the emphasis shifts to the labor and process involved in creating imagery for mass consumption. Erte's hand may have drawn the initial sketch, but it was intended to be replicated and disseminated widely. It changes the game quite a bit, right? Editor: Absolutely! I’ll definitely think differently about Erte and Art Deco from now on. Thank you for broadening my perspective, seeing beyond the surface.