Art Nouveau

An artistic style that lasted roughly from 1890 to 1914, Art Nouveau was born in Europe and spread into North America. It was first officially recognized in Paris during the 1900 World’s Fair. At this time, the art was established as the decorative style that would usher in the twentieth century.

Its main goal was to create a decorative style that transcended international borders. Its creators were young, idealistic and brilliant artists that were eager to create a modern look for the new age. These innovative minds were working in a world where the old customs were starting to take second seat to modern cities and the industrial revolution. They coped with the change through their contributions to Art Nouveau, which sought to embrace fantasy and all things mystical.

As an art movement, Art Nouveau had a strong emphasis on hand craftsmanship in response to the industrial revolution. Good examples of the period are visually dominated by organic, curved lines and shapes. This stylistic standard even earned it the nickname ‘the noodle style’ by French art critics. Austria and Scotland however are exceptions to the standard and developed a variation of the style that is rich in right-angle forms.

Although there was a disdain for machine-made art, the application of industrial techniques and materials was encouraged. It employed the use of abstract lines and other forms that were rather unrecognizable. The subject matter usually consisted of natural subjects. The three-dimensionality was removed by limiting the amount of shading. Although beautiful works of art, they were mainly decorative pieces and not very practical.

Good examples of Art Nouveau are the works of Alphonse Mucha. He painted many works in the style that are now considered iconic of the movement. They are full of curved lines and create a slight sense of depth with minimal shading. They create a visually pleasing composition with a limited palette and relative flatness that the style is famous for.