At the Theatre, Trapeze 

Here we see Erte’s creation, “At the Theatre, Trapeze”, likely made through pochoir, a printing process known for its vibrant colors and crisp lines. The flat planes of color, particularly the reds and pinks, showcase pochoir’s capacity for intensity. Notice how each hue is applied in distinct layers, with a stencil guiding the placement of each. This labor-intensive method, requiring skilled hands to cut stencils and apply colors, speaks to the values of craftsmanship. The solid background emphasizes the figure, lifting the trapeze artist into the spotlight. The clean, graphic style, so typical of art deco, reflects a fascination with industrial precision, and a celebration of modernity. The image itself, of course, speaks to the spectacle of performance, and the culture industry that employs so many. So when you look at this print, consider not only its aesthetic appeal, but also the processes that brought it into being – the labor, the materials, and the social context.