The Influence of Art History on Modern Design - Art Nouveau - Pixel77

Art Nouveau (the term comes from French and it means New Art) is an art style which was mainly manifested in visual arts, design and architecture in the late 19th century and the early 20th century (1890 – 1914), almost in the same time in most of the cultures and European countries , but also in North America.

This modern style was considered an attempt to create an international style based on decorations. Art Nouveau was a style developed by an energetic and brilliant generation of designers and artists who sought to fashion an art form appropriate to the modern age.

 

In many ways, this style was a response to the Industrial Revolution. The technological progress was welcomed by artists who embraced the aesthetic possibilities of using new materials in their art work such as cast iron.  Actually, the Art Nouveau style came into being in 1893 when Victor Horta introduces for the first time iron and casting into the homes of the bourgeoisie in Brussels.

The Art Nouveau artists shared the belief that all the arts should work in harmony in order to create a “total work of art”: buildings, textiles, furniture, jewelry, clothes all conformed to the principles of Art Nouveau.

 

After 1919 this style was considered old-fashioned and limited and the artist generally abandoned to use it as a distinct decorative style.

The Art Nouveau Style is characterized by the use of sinuous, long organic lines and temperate and dark colors. The most used colors are mustard yellow, dark red, olive, brown and some violet and blue now and there.

 

The specific ornamental characteristics of this modern style is asymmetrical and undulating lines, that were often taking the form of flower stalks and buds, insect wings, vine tendrils and other sinuous and delicate natural objects.

The prints from the Art Nouveau period are very important for understanding this movement. For example, the lithograph “Tropon” by Henry van de Velde (1898) shows the distinctive color choices of an Art Nouveau Print with dull green, brilliant ochre and orange, which were combined with the letters of the word “tropon”. The simple composition of this artist combines a new style of color choices with the curvy lines.

 

“Tropon” by Henry van de Velde (1898).

The two-dimensional Art Nouveau pieces were drawn, painted and printed in popular forms such as posters, advertisements, labels and magazines. The style was typified as extravagant, flowing and with curved lines, often with a floral motif. But it was perhaps the commercial application of the style that gives its particular appeal, directness and lasting presence.

The technological progress in lithographic printing allowed for color printing on a large scale for the first time and therefore to make the graphic style of Art Nouveau to be widely available. The commercial poster runs were extended to allow for more copies to be sold to collectors.

The Art Nouveau movement had a great influence on illustrators, artists and the printing trade in America including Art Nouveau revivial in the post-war 60s hippie movement. Even today, some of the best features of Art Nouveau can be seen throughout the visual communication industry

Artists all over the world are using as inspiration today elements of this modern art style like the sinuous lines, floral elements, the nature features and the characteristic colors.