Number 2 

Erte created this stylized figure, titled "Number 2," in a manner typical of the Art Deco period. The illustration has a striking visual impact through its simplicity and elegance. The composition is dominated by the numeral ‘2’, ingeniously formed by the figure of a woman. She is adorned with flowing blue hair, complemented by intricate jewelry. Erte's use of line is meticulous; the delicate curves of the woman's body and the swirling pattern of her hair create a sense of fluid motion. The colour palette is restrained, with the cool blues of the hair and jewelry contrasting against the pale skin and dark background, giving a sense of depth. In structuralist terms, the illustration can be seen as a symbolic interplay between figure and form, where the semiotic system of signs is both representational and abstract. Erte challenges fixed meanings and explores perception and representation. The stylized design, with its emphasis on line and form, functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural discourse on beauty, identity, and representation.