Lovers and Idol 

Curator: Looking at this mixed-media work titled "Lovers and Idol", attributed to Erte, I'm struck by its dramatic narrative potential. The positioning of the figures and the idol immediately evokes questions of societal roles and the tension between personal desire and cultural expectation. Editor: Absolutely! The image resonates with an intense, almost unsettling symbolism. The pastel palette softens what would otherwise be quite a menacing scene dominated by the huge, strangely grinning idol looming over the embrace of these two figures. Curator: The Art Deco influence is very clear in Erte's work generally, especially in how he presents this idol, a non-Western, almost orientalist figure, reflecting a broader cultural fascination within that movement with exoticism and idealized forms. The stark contrast in light between the main stage and the shaded periphery also adds to that exotic stage drama, reminiscent of ballet or theatre sets of the period. Editor: I think you've hit the nail on the head with the orientalist reading, and yes the theatrics! That central figure evokes ancient deities, perhaps hinting at pagan roots overlaid onto a more modern romantic dilemma. Note how even the embrace has a very mannered quality - performative perhaps? Even the looming, draped figure to the left strikes a familiar pose, suggesting something both alluring and deeply menacing. Curator: Indeed, we see so many artistic traditions converging here to express very particular themes. Considering that Erte's background was deeply enmeshed in theatre design and celebrity portraiture, he was clearly very adept at creating visually striking symbols of very human anxieties. Editor: So much so, it does feel that "Lovers and Idol" taps into those almost primordial conflicts between love, fidelity and faith in very powerful way, irrespective of the figures in it. Thank you! Curator: A compelling image, absolutely, that still poses more questions than answers about how we reconcile love and culture. Thank you!