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Art Nouveau was an artistic movement that was prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The style was characterized by its use of organic, often asymmetrical forms.
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Nature
Art Nouveau was an art movement that took inspiration from the natural world. This can be seen in the way that many Art Nouveau artists used asymmetrical designs, plant-like motifs, and sharp, curved lines.
Japanese Art
One of the primary inspirations for Art Nouveau was the phenomenon known as Japonisme, which was the craze for all things Japanese in late 19th century Europe. Two important events spurred this craze: the opening of Japan to Westerners in 1853, and the Tokyo International Exhibition in 1873, which showcased a wealth of Japanese art and design.
European artists and designers were mesmerized by the intricate patterns and bold colors they saw in Japanese prints (known as ukiyo-e), as well as the quality of Japanese lacquerware and textiles. They were also impressed by Japanese architecture, particularly the way that buildings seemed to grow out of their natural surroundings. Many aspects of Japanese art were incorporated into Art Nouveau, including asymmetry, irregularity, lightness, and a focus on nature.
Gothic Architecture
Art Nouveau was a decorative art style that was popular in Europe and the United States from about 1890 to 1910. It is characterized by intricate patterns featuring natural and imaginary plant forms, as well as asymmetrical designs. Many believe that Art Nouveau was inspired by Gothic architecture, which was widely popular in the 12th and 13th centuries. Gothic architecture is characterized by its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. It is also known for its ornate decoration, which often features intricate stone carvings.
William Morris
Art Nouveau was most notably inspired by British textile designer William Morris. In the 1860s, Morris established a decorative arts workshop called Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in London, England. There, he and his team produced hand-crafted furniture, wallpaper, tapestries, and other household objects. Many of these items featured floral and other nature-based designs – a key characteristic of Art Nouveau.
The Arts and Crafts Movement
Art Nouveau was an artistic movement that began in the late 1800s and reached its height of popularity between 1890 and 1910. The style is characterized by ornate, asymmetrical design and decoration, often with a nature-inspired theme.
Art Nouveau was partly inspired by the English Arts and Crafts Movement, which championed handcrafted goods over mass-produced items. Unlike the Arts and Crafts Movement, however, Art Nouveau artists were not against using new technologies; they simply believed that art should be beautiful and accessible to everyone.
Other sources of inspiration for Art Nouveau artists included Japanese woodblock prints and the work of Belgian architect Victor Horta. In general, Art Nouveau artists sought to break away from the stuffy, academic rules of traditional art movements such as Neoclassicism and Romanticism.
The Pre-Raphaelites
The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of English painters, poets and critics who came together in 1848 in reaction to the government-sanctioned art of the day. Instead, they sought to emulate the styles of the Italian Renaissance painters who had come before the age of Raphael. The Pre-Raphaelites were also greatly influenced by John Ruskin, an English writer who argued that art should be focused on accurate depictions of nature.
Symbolism
Art Nouveau was an art and design style that emerged in the late 19th century. It was inspired by organic and geometric forms, as well as by the work of British artist and writer William Morris.
The style is characterized by its use of sinuous, flowing lines; its focus on nature and the natural world; and its rejection of the industrialization of the late 19th century. Art Nouveau artists sought to create a total work of art—one that would include not only painting and sculpture, but also architecture, furniture, textiles, jewelry, and even food.
Many Art Nouveau artists were inspired by Symbolism, a late-19th-century artistic movement that emphasized the expression of ideas and emotions through symbols and allegory. Symbolism gave artists a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings in a highly stylized way.
While Art Nouveau was short-lived—it faded from popularity in the early 20th century—its influence can still be seen in the work of many modern artists and designers.
Jugendstil
Art Nouveau was an international movement that was most popular at the turn of the 20th century. The style is characterized by its focus on nature and its use of organic, often asymmetrical lines. Artists who were influenced by Art Nouveau created works in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, furniture, glass, ceramics, and metalwork.
The word “Jugendstil” is German for “youth style,” and it was used to describe the Art Nouveau movement in Germany. Jugendstil was heavily influenced by Japanese art, which was introduced to Europe in the late 19th century. Jugendstil artists sought to create a new form of art that would be modern and accessible to everyone.
The Jugendstil movement was short-lived, lasting only about 15 years. However, its influence can still be seen in many contemporary works of art.
Art Nouveau in Europe
Art Nouveau is often thought of as a French style, but it was popular concurrently throughout Europe. It was most prominent in the larger cities of the time such as Paris, Brussels, Nancy, and Munich, but can be seen as far afield as Vienna, Warsaw, Istanbul, and Riga. The style was also particularly popular in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Art Nouveau in America
Art Nouveau in America
Art Nouveau was a style of art, architecture, and design that emerged in the late 19th century and peaked in popularity around 1900. The style is characterized by its use of organic, often plant-inspired forms; its rejection of traditional perspective in favor of a flattened, two-dimensional picture plane; and its use of highly stylized decoration.
Art Nouveau was inspired by many different sources, including the British Arts and Crafts Movement, Japonisme (the Western craze for all things Japanese), and the work of Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In America, the rise of the skyscraper also influenced Art Nouveau designers, who began to incorporate verticality and lightness into their work.
While Art Nouveau enjoyed a brief period of popularity in America, it was eventually eclipsed by other styles, such as Art Deco. However, its influence can still be seen in the work of American designers such as Tiffany & Co. and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
