Week 3- Art Nouveau

 This week in History of Interiors and Furnishings II we learned about the Art Nouveau period, which took place between 1890-1910. 

Art Nouveau was very different than that of the Arts and Crafts movement, being inspired by nature (rejecting history) and embracing technology and manufacturing processes. Art Nouveau quite literally means “New Art”. This was a time of peace and prosperity in Europe, meaning it allowed the growth of new and experimental designs, inspired by William Morris. During this time artists such as the well-known painter Van Gogh lived and worked. Another artist by the name of Aubrey Beardsley greatly influenced the movement even though he was very controversial for his time.  

 
(Starry Night- Van Gogh). (Modern Application- James Eads)

While Britain is where the movement began, it erupted in Belgium and France and became evident throughout Europe and Western countries. The movement used modern techniques (industrial production and electricity) and materials such as iron and glass. This style was used in architecture/interior design, painting, and sculpture based on natural forms.  Abstract forms were created, mostly being curvilinear. This movement was a rejection of all things Victorian style and tradition in general.  

A Belgian architect, designer, and teach by the name of Victor Horta was very influential in this period. He created unique iron railing and hardware, stenciled walls and ceilings, and mosaic tile patterns on floors, walls, and ceilings. He even introduced the curtain wall, which is a structure of metal and glass.  

Another artist is Henry Van de Velde who was a Belgian painter and practitioner, however he was also a designer and furniture maker. He examined the relationship between aesthetics and morality by observing nature.  

Another designer and architect was Hector Guimard, being from Paris, he anything from interiors and furnishings to signage and light standards. His work looked hand-crafted but was usually prefabricated in a factory from iron alloy, glass and stone.  

 
(Paris Metro- Hector Guimard) (Modern Application- Disney Land Entrance)

In Spain Antoni Gaudi was an architect for the movement. He used glass, masonry, glazed ceramic tile, wrought iron and wood seamlessly to create unusual decorative details resembling nature to create structures. He was inspired by oriental arts like Japan (as many of the artists of this era), as well as India and Persia.  

(Casa Batlo- Antoni Gaudi) (Modern Application- Star Wars/Naboo)

In Germany, Die Jugend founded his version of the Art Nouveau style in 1969 called Jugendstil, which spread to areas such as Finland.  

 

 

One Step Further: 

One such artist who is highly inspired by Van Gogh is a man named James Eads. Eads is from Los Angeles, California, and is a printmaker, painter and graphic designer. Additionally, he creates digital art by painting in virtual reality and creating apps.  

Very similar to the Art Nouveau movement, his paintings are often very curvilinear, being inspired by nature while also being very fantasy inspired. He often uses Van Gosh’s impasto method when making paintings, creating rapid marks to capture fleeting moments in time, as the colors dance across the canvas  

 

https://freeyork.org/art/an-artist-creates-van-gogh-inspired-swirling-landscapes/ 

https://jamesreads.com/pages/about