Art Deco - Chapter 22
In this period directly after World War I, people were looking for a way to celebrate. Art Deco created this mood of liberation, celebration, and luxury to the masses. Inspired by Art Nouveau, hand-crafted furniture arose. However, new elements were being introduced: shiny materials, exotic materials, zig-zags, vertical aspects of designs, and geometric shapes. The work clearly indicated aspects of Cubism, Russian Constructivism, and Italian Functionalism. This, along with the new designs created hesitation from the public.
Art Deco began in France at the 1925 World's Fair. Held to bring attention to interior design, everything from textiles to furniture to lamps / signs were on display. Yet, despite the numerous variety of products Art Deco brought about, it also came with many stylistic changes, technological advances, and contradicting views.
Art Deco created a rift between the "functionalists" and the "decorators." Sometimes the rift could be crossed for a collaboration but few wanted to compromise their ideals. The functionalists believed that every piece of art, furniture, or accessory needed to be, well, functional. It needed to be simple. The design should also be mass produced and available to the common person.
Decorators on the other hand were big in this movement and set the "mood" of celebration talked about earlier. They believed goods should consist of labor intensive craftsmanship and should appeal to the elite and higher-ups. However, they were not concerned with social construct or theory.
There was another rift in Art Deco. This rift was much more of a cooperating issues and added to the ultimate design of Art Deco. Feminine and masculine design aspects were found in this period. This also contributed to the growing number of women in the interior design field, as well as gays and lesbians. With a larger contribution from these types of people, more and more people were bringing recognized for their talent.
The presence of Austrian designers in this era gives more support to the Art Deco and Modernism link. Many immigrated to America and brought Art Deco about there. However, there were more French designers and architects that were involved in this movement:
Design Examples:
Art Deco began in France at the 1925 World's Fair. Held to bring attention to interior design, everything from textiles to furniture to lamps / signs were on display. Yet, despite the numerous variety of products Art Deco brought about, it also came with many stylistic changes, technological advances, and contradicting views.
Art Deco created a rift between the "functionalists" and the "decorators." Sometimes the rift could be crossed for a collaboration but few wanted to compromise their ideals. The functionalists believed that every piece of art, furniture, or accessory needed to be, well, functional. It needed to be simple. The design should also be mass produced and available to the common person.
Decorators on the other hand were big in this movement and set the "mood" of celebration talked about earlier. They believed goods should consist of labor intensive craftsmanship and should appeal to the elite and higher-ups. However, they were not concerned with social construct or theory.
There was another rift in Art Deco. This rift was much more of a cooperating issues and added to the ultimate design of Art Deco. Feminine and masculine design aspects were found in this period. This also contributed to the growing number of women in the interior design field, as well as gays and lesbians. With a larger contribution from these types of people, more and more people were bringing recognized for their talent.
The presence of Austrian designers in this era gives more support to the Art Deco and Modernism link. Many immigrated to America and brought Art Deco about there. However, there were more French designers and architects that were involved in this movement:
- Michel Roux-Spitz
- Jean Dunand
- Maurice Dufrene
- Jean Michel Frank
- Jacques- Emile Ruhlmann
Design Examples:
Smoking Table designed by Eileen Gray (1927).
Bureau de Administratuer crafted by Michel Roux-Spitz.
Radio City Music Hall Grand Staircase (New York City).
Current Applications:
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| A living room today clearly decorated with the intentions of resembling Art Deco, using geometric motifs and gold shades. |
Bathroom vanity applying the stepping technique
used by multiple pieces of furniture from Art Deco.
One Step Further:
used by multiple pieces of furniture from Art Deco.
Jean-Michel Frank was only of the many influential French designers of this stylistic period. Gaining his education from Lycee Janson de Sailly in Paris, Frank was most known for his minimalistic interiors. Frank also tried to bring simplicity to this luxury age through the use of natural materials. Frank used these materials as his colors. Keeping the walls white, highlighted this technique. Frank created pieces of luxurious furniture with the idea of simplicity and uniqueness in mind.
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| Jean-Michel Frank oak armchairs covered in deerskin. |
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| Apartment design by Jean-Michel Frank. |
Amber, in your post you mentioned that the Art Deco period was a time where more women, and lesbians and gays were involved in interior design. I like this about the Art Deco movement, because it created the variety like we see with the more feminine designs vs. the more masculine designs. Great summary of the movement!
ReplyDeleteAmber, great summary of the Art Deco movement. This is one of fun and celebration after the world wars. The field of transportation and oceanliners in particular spread this great design throughout the world. As you mentioned the new and exotic materials of this era were so rich and exciting.
ReplyDeleteYou summarized the "functionalist vs the decorator" rift well.
Women such as Eileen Gray stepped into their own during this period.
Jean- Michael Frank was a great design to study in detail- his oak Chairs with doe skin hides are some of my favorite!