ART NOUVEAU

Art Nouveau started around 1880's-1890's. It explored  a new style in both vial arts and architecture that had developed in Europe and North America at the end of the 19th century. In the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, Art Nouveau was established as the first new decorative style of the 20th century. Art Nouveau was an attempt at creating an international style based on decoration and was developed by a generation of artists and designers who sought to create an artistic style to be suited appropriately for the modern age. During this tie, Urban life had started to be established. Many artists and designers of the time embraced the new technologies such as cast iron, while others held back onto the past, embracing the spirit world, fantasy and myth. Art Nouveau is known to be a response to the Industrial Revolution. Many where against the mass-produced, machine-made goods and aimed to higher rank the decorative arts to the level of fine art by applying the highest standards of craftsmanship and design to everyday objects and ornaments. Art Nouveau designers believed that all arts should work together; buildings, furniture, textiles, jewelry and clothing, to create a "total work of art".

Hanging cabinet, ca. 1890 - Emilie Galle (French, 1846-1904).

Vase, ca. 1899 - Max Lauger (German, 1864-1952).

Coffee service, 1900-1904 - Leon Kann (French).

Brooch, ca. 1900 - Manufacturer: Georges Fouquet (French, 1863-1957); Designer: Alphonse Mucha (Czech, 1860-1939).

Panel, ca. 1900 - Hector Guimard (French, 1867-1942)

References:

Art Nouveau. 2013. Art Nouveau. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nga.gov/feature/nouveau/exhibit_intro.shtm. [Accessed 15 May 2013].

Art Nouveau | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. Art Nouveau | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm. [Accessed 15 May 2013].