Fantasia 

Editor: Here we have Erte's *Fantasia*, it is not dated but presents the artist's unique symbolism with art deco lines and a central figure, almost ethereal in its presentation. The colours are dreamy and light, a stark contrast to the sharp edges of art deco in other artists, but it's the figure that commands attention. What draws you to it? Curator: Ah, *Fantasia*. It feels like stepping into a whispered secret, doesn't it? The almost dreamlike softness you pointed out is key; Erte was, in a way, a conjurer of emotions, and he uses those gentle pastel hues to evoke a feeling of delicate longing. Do you feel it too? A kind of yearning for a beauty that’s just beyond reach, a world forever shrouded in twilight mystery? Editor: Definitely. It is like I'm looking at the image of a poem. So the butterflies are a symbol of transformation perhaps, but why the almost sinister black backdrop? Curator: You’ve caught the delicious paradox at the heart of this! Precisely – butterflies often speak of metamorphosis, yes! And the dark background is where things become fascinating. Think about how theater uses lighting – the black could be like the stage curtains drawing attention to the luminous figure, or, it might echo the anxieties bubbling beneath the surface of the 'Roaring Twenties,' a subtle premonition perhaps. Which of those elements do you feel tugs you closer? Editor: I like that the black provides depth rather than gloom; I might actually pick the luminous stage curtains concept. What a lovely piece. I will never see Erte in quite the same way. Thanks. Curator: You know, sometimes art whispers its secrets best when we find our own reflections within it. Thanks to you for letting it breathe.