Walking Liberty

🔎 Overview

• Title: Walking Liberty
• Artist: Erté (Romain de Tirtoff, 1892–1990)
• Medium: Serigraph (silkscreen) with metallic gold accents on paper
• Category: Limited Edition Fine Art Print / Art Deco Collectible
• Style: Art Deco / Figurative Fantasy
• Frame: Custom giltwood frame with triple matting (gold, blue, white)
• Size (approx.): Typically 24" x 30" (image), 32" x 38" framed
• Condition: Excellent – No visible damage, fading, or mat burn.

🧑‍🎨 About the Artist

Erté, born Romain de Tirtoff, was a Russian-born French artist and designer known for his theatrical fashion illustrations and Art Deco-style works. He designed for Harper’s Bazaar, the Folies-Bergère, and countless stage productions. In the 1970s and 1980s, Erté's work experienced a renaissance through limited edition prints, sculpture, and serigraphy.

🎨 Artwork Description

"Walking Liberty" is one of Erté’s later works, created during the 1980s resurgence of Art Deco appreciation. The piece features a stylized female figure resembling the Statue of Liberty or Lady Liberty motif, but with Erté’s signature swirling drapery, celestial details, and elegant pose. She stands in a golden boat on stylized Art Deco waves, holding a flaming torch under vibrant fireworks. The gold embellishment is likely metallic ink or foiling, a common trait in Erté serigraphs, enhancing value and visual impact.

🔐 Authentication and Edition

• While the visible portion of the print does not show a signature or edition number, authentic Erté serigraphswere typically:
  • Signed in pencil or plate by the artist (lower right)
  • Numbered as limited editions (e.g., 72/300)
  • Produced by Circle Fine Art or other reputable publishers

If your piece has these marks (usually under the matting), it is likely an authentic, limited-edition Erté serigraph. If not, it may be an open edition print or reproduction, which still carries decorative value but not investment-grade appeal.

💵 Estimated Value (2024 Market)

Type

Retail / Gallery

Private Sale

Auction

Signed & Numbered Serigraph

$1,000–$2,000

$800–$1,500

$600–$1,200

Unsigned / Open Edition Print

$150–$400

$100–$300

$75–$250

✅ Your piece appears in excellent framed condition, which enhances its market value.

📌 Recommendations

1. Inspect for Signature & Edition Number – Carefully check below the mat or on the lower edges.
2. Consult a Professional Appraiser – For insurance or resale purposes, especially if you suspect it's an original serigraph.
3. Sell Through – Art auction houses (like Heritage or Bonhams), or fine art platforms like Artsy, eBay (with good provenance), or 1stDibs.

🧾 Summary

Your framed artwork titled Walking Liberty is a decorative and collectible piece, very likely by Erté, one of the most influential Art Deco artists. If authenticated as a signed, limited edition serigraph, it can command a strong market value. Even as a fine-quality reproduction, it remains desirable for collectors of decorative arts and vintage design.