Morning Day 

Erte created this gouache and metallic ink drawing, Morning Day, during the Art Deco movement. The image creates meaning through visual codes associated with luxury and modernity in the early 20th century. The elegant figures, stylized forms, and opulent materials reflect the aspirations of a society embracing consumer culture and technological progress. Erte’s illustrations were very popular in fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, and were a driving force in defining fashion trends in both Europe and the United States. The sleek lines and geometric patterns are very much in line with the decorative arts that were featured at the 1925 Paris Exposition. Historical context is key to understanding art. Fashion journals, exhibition catalogs, and design publications from the period provide further insight into the social and institutional factors that influenced artists like Erte. Studying these resources will help us better understand art's meaning as something rooted in its time.