It’s Not Art Nouveu-o its Art Nouveau
The design really picked up in this period of time. In the 1890s the Arts and Crafts Movement evolved into the Art Nouveau Movement. This was a pretty amazing time for anyone who could hold a pencil or write their name. No, but seriously, the art nouveau period was awesome. People were inspired and trying new things. Art, graphic design, architecture, and interiors were all encompassed by this movement.
Art Nouveau moved and grew with commercial influence and moved away from the expensive handcrafted elites which is what the arts and crafts movement really was. It kept the prices of art and craftsmanship higher than the common folk could afford, when it came to art nouveau it made products more affordable. There was a big embrace of commercial mass-production as well as this kind of art greatly influenced advertisements.
Women were the main focus of this kind of art. Although it was happening a bit in the past, you can really see how central and more sexual women become in these posters. Alongside the art being very feminine and more sexual, the overall composition of the designs started to become more delicate. The use of organic shapes, and what is called whiplash curves (which is essentially the spirals and whimsical notes in the art), decorative borders, earthy colour choices, florals, and the text was actually fully thought out before it was added to the artwork. It had more design elements to it rather than just art with an afterthought of text. The text was incorporated into the designs and made very readable.
When Your Building Starts Looking Like A Dragon With Scales, Keep Designing
What were they thinking when they designed such crazy incredible buildings. Like the example below, lots were incredibly fairytale-like and slightly on the ugly side. They resembled creatures with scales on them, but others were a complete work of art.
Art Nouveau was a movement that encompassed architecture, design, art, and interiors. The architecture was incredible. It had an ornamental style of art influence to the inside and the outside of the building. You can also always tell when something is art nouveau inspired because you can characterize it by its long, sinuous, organic lines in architecture.
The long curving lines and shapes inspired by nature, and the use of the glass, the touch of iron details are all elements that were used often in architecture at this time. Not only focused on the outside of the building, but this movement also encompasses all of the building down to the forks and spoons design. The furnishing, interiors, silverware to wallpaper were dedicated to creating a completely immersive experience. Thank you, France!
Citations:
hArt Nouveau. (2018). In P. Lagasse, & Columbia University, The Columbia encyclopedia (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Credo Reference: https://ezproxy.capilanou.ca/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/art_nouveau/0?institutionId=6884
Arts and Crafts & Art Nouveau. (2003). In J. Miller (Ed.), Miller’s antiques encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Mitchell Beazley. Credo Reference: https://ezproxy.capilanou.ca/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/mae/arts_and_crafts_and_art_nouveau/0?institutionId=6884
Mackintosh, Charles Rennie. (2017). In Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica concise encyclopedia. Britannica Digital Learning. Credo Reference: https://ezproxy.capilanou.ca/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ebconcise/mackintosh_charles_rennie/0?institutionId=6884
Gombrich, E. H. (1966). The story of art. New York: Phaidon Publishers; distributed by Oxford University Press.
Photo Reference:
https://www.overstockart.com/painting/the-kiss-(full-view-luxury-line)&option_id=5598&bc=791_1210