Winter Resorts 

Curator: Isn't it remarkable how Erte, a master of Art Deco, could distill entire experiences into such elegantly stylized images? This one, called "Winter Resorts," seems less about the chill and more about the dreamy escape it offers. Editor: Escape is the word. It has that glamorous melancholy you find in old movie posters, a touch of faded glory. The woman’s face seems wistful, even with those strong geometric lines. The whole composition is split so cleverly; is she leaving the resort, or arriving? Curator: It’s wonderfully ambiguous. And note how the geometric stylization doesn't negate her personality, it emphasizes the universal desire for a better place that Art Deco represents. Those crisp, simple lines don't feel cold; instead, the sharp contrasts capture the idealized glamour of leisure. The color palette - primarily blues and black - conveys a sense of sophistication but then there is that spot of brilliant red. Editor: Absolutely, it's the focal point, isn’t it? That scarlet bloom positioned near her face practically screams "romance" and "adventure". The sharp angular black reminds me of both theatre and of course a little sinister undercurrent too, like you would find in Jazz Age storytelling. And those white striped arches at the bottom—do they mimic a wave or the contours of fur? It’s so intentionally ambiguous, you nailed it when you used the term glamorous melancholy earlier. Curator: Fur, waves… I always felt it could also reference those striped awnings popular on ocean liners of the period. Those details feel meticulously planned to convey status, like layers in a decadent dessert. It makes the composition quite compelling with its contrasting imagery of winter, palm trees and beach resorts. I am really curious where she has escaped from or escaped to. Editor: Ultimately, it works as a symbol. Erte captures that timeless human yearning for someplace beyond our immediate reality. Even decades later, looking at it triggers this intense cocktail of yearning and luxury. The way Erte balanced graphic strength with soft human emotion is why the image is still so fascinating.