ERTÉ (Illustrator)

This illustration was accompanied by the provocative words. "Nature changes her costume each season, but quite without cost, whereas with the fairer sex..." Erté had a highly personal concept of women and fashion. He portrayed the female form in a very stylized manner. Women were exotic goddesses for whom money was no object. As for fashion, he himself said that he did not follow its trends but that from his creations each woman could select something that suited her without strictly adhering to the mode. His love of accessories, especially jewellery, is displayed here, in a picture that exemplifies his mastery of precise detail and lavish ornamentation, hallmarks for which he became known as the father of Art Deco. Erté had two major influences, which came from his native and adopted countries: Léon Bakst and the Ballets Russes and Paul Poiret, for whom he worked on fashionable and theatrical dress. 

Also look up for Bakst, Brunelleschi, Callot, Poiret