Asian Princess 

Erte's "Asian Princess" seems to have been made with gouache, and metallic pigment, perhaps gold or bronze powder. The impact of this work rests on Erte’s mastery of line and color, combined with his deep knowledge of printing. The medium allows Erte to mimic the texture and shine of the gold threads, the subtle gradation of colors, and the layering of motifs one on top of the other. This is all in service of a highly mannered aesthetic, one evocative of imperial splendor and Art Deco elegance. The work is a clear product of its era, when there was an intense fascination with other cultures. Consider the amount of work involved in the production of the painting and the prints that were made after it: the skilled labor of design, and the more anonymous work of reproduction. This piece reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of complex cultural and economic forces.