The curtain of I'Hiver 

Erte's "The Curtain of I'Hiver," presents us with the artist's vision of winter, a piece born from the Art Deco era, a time of both exuberance and anxiety after the First World War. Here, winter is embodied by a figure of cool, ethereal beauty. Suspended above a sleeping woman, it’s as though she’s dreaming the season into existence. It’s impossible not to think about the legacy of the male gaze in art history when looking at this piece, and yet Erte’s work invites a more nuanced reading. The sleeping figure below seems to be in a place of quiet power, as if she is the reason for the existence of winter. She is at once vulnerable and central to the image’s narrative. Erte’s works often evoke a sense of longing and transformation. This piece is a testament to the power of imagination, illustrating how we project our inner worlds onto the external environment.