Number 3 

This is Erte's ‘Number 3’, part of his alphabet series. Its exquisite details are printed in lithography, a process where each color is printed from a separate stone or metal plate. Look closely and you'll see a sinuous Art Deco design, with the number three formed by two reclining, bejeweled figures transforming into mermaid-like forms. Erte, a master of the luxurious and opulent, uses printing to give the impression of precious materials – pearls, gold, and enamel. The smooth, flat quality of the print is deceptive. It invites us to imagine the meticulous work required to create the original design, and the skilled labor of the printers to transfer it onto paper. By embracing both handcraft and mechanical reproduction, Erte blurred the boundaries between high art and design, creating works that were both visually stunning and widely accessible. And that is exactly what makes Erte so interesting.