Art Nouveau- Chapter 19

Art Nouveau is very similar to the Arts and Crafts movement is the sense of that it is inspired by nature and was highly ornamented, however it rejected all historical precedents and encouraged the use of manufacturing processes. Art Nouveau included art works of all mediums; painting, furniture, buildings, jewelry, graphic design etc. All were viewed as equally worthy of praise and admiration from this era.

Writings from William Morris, John Ruskin, and Viollet-le-Duc had philosophical impacts on the main focus of this movement, the contradiction of 19th century historicism. Art Nouveau implanted the seeds of modernism and became the first movement to show signs of doing this.

Siegfried Bing's gallery in Paris was the event to set off this movement. The gallery called Maison de l'Art Nouveau exhibited objects that became the Art Nouveau style. Henry van de Ver and Louis Comfort Tiffany also contributed to the gallery. People saw this style of decorating and were immediately taken to it.

France and Belgium became centers for Art Nouveau and many great designers came out of it. Victor Horta, who had a stylistic unity while designing private homes became one of these greats, as did Emile Galle and Hector Guimard. Guimard was eventually commissioned the project of designing the head of the metro for Paris, which was a great honor at the time.

Unfortunately, there wasn't as much of a movement in the United States as Belgium or France. But Louis Henry Sullivan and Louis Comfort Tiffany got there moments to shine. Sullivan specialized in skyscrapers and is famous for the Carson Pirie Scott Store in Chicago. Tiffany became known for speciality designed glass, lamps, vases, and known for an interior decorator.

Art Nouveau spread to the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Peru. Examples of Art Nouveau here are seen in buildings and furniture

Sadly, the Art Nouveau movement was spent by the 1920s, giving it a short, but lasting, lifetime.

Design Examples: 

This lamp design by Louis Comfort Tiffany shows
the main aspects of Art Nouveau and
represents Tiffany's work.

This staircase constructed in a private home was
created by Victor Horta, a central character
to Art Nouveau.

The entrance to Siegfried Bing's exhibition, Maison de l'Art Nouveau.

Current Applications:

A staircase in a modern home resembles the
inspiration of curvilinear nature the Art
Nouveau artists used. 

This design for a poster of a Disney princess has
characteristics of what Art Nouveau would be depicted
as, graphically. 

These earrings, for sale on Etsy, have nature inspired design
as well as the color that resembles a peacock's
feather -a trait of Art Nouveau. 

One Step Further:

Louis Henry Sullivan was a very central role to the Art Nouveau movement in the United States. Sullivan was labeled an architectural prodigy, starting college at MIT at just 16 years old! By the time of 24, he was working side by side with Dankmar Adler in their own firm. 
Sullivan was eventually nicknamed the "Father of Skyscrapers" due to his immense impact on the building of Chicago's skyline (ArchDaily). Bringing about the seeds of modernism with his works, Sullivan obeyed the "form follows function" rule. Because of his great influence on the efforts of modernism, Sullivan became an inspiration to Frank Lloyd Wright. 

 The Carson Pirie Scott building in downtown Chicago effectively reflects this statement as well as the notions of Art Nouveau. The entrance is beautifully ornate and the building's form follows its function -room for a giant department store. 

The storefront of the Carson Pirie Scott building in
downtown Chicago.

The design on the Wainwright building in
St. Louis, Missouri.