Fall 

Editor: This is Erte's "Fall," done in tempera, and it just strikes me as so melancholic. The woman, the falling leaves, even the colors feel like a farewell. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This image is a perfect example of how Art Deco became a visual language that mirrored the societal shifts of the early 20th century. Erte often used the female figure to explore themes of luxury, fashion, and even decadence, but within that beauty, there's often a questioning of traditional gender roles and expectations. What do you notice about how she's positioned within the composition? Editor: Well, she seems almost trapped between the curtain and the falling leaves. The black fence in front of her adds to that sense of confinement. Curator: Exactly. The "Fall" of the title could refer not only to the season but also perhaps to a societal "fall" from grace, a loss of innocence as women entered a rapidly changing world. The curtain, adorned with what seem to be classical figures, hints at a rejection of past ideals, while the leaves represent the shedding of old constraints. What does the use of tempera, versus say, oil, communicate to you? Editor: It makes the colours flat and bold, not traditionally naturalistic. Perhaps the painting also hints at an embrace of modern industrial society. Curator: Precisely. Erte, in his theatrical way, captures both the allure and the anxieties of a generation redefining itself, using imagery that intertwines elegance with an underlying tension. Editor: That’s so interesting! I never thought about Art Deco containing anxieties and deeper narratives about a modern world. Curator: These works aren’t simply beautiful; they are artifacts reflecting the complex social and political currents of their time. There is a lot that visual culture reveals about any society's underpinnings.