Dinarade 

Curator: Erte's "Dinarade" presents a fascinating glimpse into the Art Deco aesthetic. We see the piece rendered as a drawing, very much in the spirit of fashion plate design. Editor: It's striking, isn't it? The elongated figure and bold, geometric patterns almost have a stylized theatricality. I immediately sense an echo of ancient Egypt and the Ballets Russes costumes, especially in that layered green bodice and the striped trousers. Curator: Precisely. These were important sources of inspiration within decorative art circles. Erte made his mark crafting cover illustrations for publications like "Harper's Bazaar," as well as working as a stage and costume designer. He defined trends in dress, promoting fashions in step with what women wanted. Editor: So the image served a very specific purpose as something widely circulated. Curator: It absolutely speaks to this modern vision, breaking from earlier aesthetic conventions. I find it’s always revealing to think of what an image communicates beyond the merely aesthetic qualities; fashion was integral to modernity in terms of its ability to signal social changes, new opportunities. It helped cultivate visual distinction between eras. Editor: Yes, this drawing encapsulates a moment, reflecting desires for modernity, the exotic. What appears a flapper's dress, those almost feather-like appliqués on the bodice, the sinuous, looping tendrils - these echo organic motifs but always kept contained within strict form. I wonder, does this tension between the organic and geometric suggest control of subconscious nature, or a yearning for it? Curator: That’s a really compelling observation, and aligns so neatly with anxieties surfacing during the early twentieth century. "Dinarade", on view now, asks these complex questions about a transformative period. Editor: "Dinarade" really demonstrates that an image, particularly one seemingly simple, can unpack immense social insight.