The Zodiac, Pisces 

This is ‘The Zodiac, Pisces’, by Erte. With its flat planes of color and graphic quality, it most likely uses the technique of pochoir, a labor-intensive method of hand-coloring prints using stencils. Erte made his name designing for magazines such as *Harper’s Bazaar,* and the set and costume designs that he produced for the stage. As you can see, ‘Pisces’ feels like a theatrical backdrop, complete with swirling ocean and stars. The art deco aesthetic that Erte developed reflects the optimism and exuberance of the roaring twenties, while also subtly incorporating influences from historical and non-Western sources. The pochoir process would have allowed for precise and controlled application of color, aligning with the artist's detailed and stylized designs. This work is a reminder that what we often call ‘illustration’ is a skilled activity, and that prints could be painstakingly hand-worked, rather than mechanically reproduced. So, even a seemingly mass-produced image can incorporate craft processes, and should be seen as testament to human labor and creativity.