Art Nouveau

The Art Nouveau era, in my opinion has been the biggest influence on Art and architecture. This new style (image) was completely innovative from the norm. This era, the late19th century, was used to having drab, dull, coloured forms of art. Art Nouveau still used nature and the natural form, but enhanced them with more colourful, bold and intense graphics. The main topics focused on in Art Nouveau were floral inspirations with flowing lines and curves.

Some Art Nouveau styles tended to veer towards the Japanese influence, This Japanese Art, which was called 'Japonisme', was becoming more and more popular in the Western market. The Art Nouveau artists quickly picked up this trend and interlaced it with their own modern ideas. Art Nouveau first came to light near the late 19th century. A Belgian publication called L' Art Moderne had produced a feature on Les Vingt (the twenty). These were twenty painters and sculptors who took it upon themselves to start an artistic revolution by refining the segregation between the fine art and the use of different media in art and craft. They were influenced by the ways and methods of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement.

Art Nouveau was considered a very expressive style and became popular with architects and interior designers. Post-Impressionism and Symbolism were comparative to Art Nouveau itself. The Art Nouveau style grew and became immensely popular to the point where an art dealer called Siegfried Bing opened an art gallery specifically for Art Nouveau and called it L' Art Nouveau. With the strength of this gallery Art Nouveau took off and gained momentum over a larger international audience. The Art Nouveau style with its vibrant, bold, block designs, became regarded as the highlight of the aesthetic movement. Many graphic artists developed the Art Nouveau style further, they began to incorporate the female image into their designs. At first they were envisaged as fairies. This is apparent in the jewellery designs of René Lalique, and many other popular artists at the time. The most famous poster from the belle époque society was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Till this day, this poster is a prime example of women in Art Nouveau style.

[Moulin Rouge original poster by Toulouse-Lautrec] n.d. [image online] Available at: <http://www.catchingwords.com/art-and-advertising-how-creative-geniuses-became-marketers/> [Accessed 17 November 2013].

Art Nouveau is typically French, where it was originally also called various names such as Style Jules Verne, Le Style Métro, Art belle époque, and Art fin de siècle. The highlight for Art Nouveau was its showcase in the grandest fair organised in Paris. Many interior designers began to use this new style in their work. From small commercial entrances to larger scales, incorporating electronic lights into the designs. Even the furnishing sector began to produce Art Nouveau furniture, they used luxurious veneers and gilt edging and mounts.

After its initial showcase, it went on to be exhibited over Europe, including the Glasgow international exhibition and the Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Decorativa Moderna at Turin. With this exposure many famous artists and designers began to introduce Art Nouveau around Europe. In Spain the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Cathedral by Antoni Gaudi, is a prime example of this style. In London a top firm called Liberty & Co supplied ceramics and textiles in English Art Nouveau. In America a famous glass designer called Louis Comfort Tiffany began producing glassware in Tiffany style. These famous Tiffany lamps have become infamous till this day.

[Tiffany Lampshade] n.d. [image online] Available at: <http://www.tiffany-lamps.de/TIFFANY_LAMP_DOMES/22IN_TRUMPETVINE/A.html> [Accessed 17 November 2013].

Art Nouveau only lasted from late 19th century to early 20th century. This was followed by Art Deco, which became evident in the sleek designs of a new generation of furniture.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Art Nouveau. [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm> [Accessed 17 November 2013].

Sagrada Familia 2013 (Personal record)

Casa Batllo Barcelona 2013 (Personal Record)