ART NOUVEAU
Gabriella Louw JLGQM5XS6
The blog was created with the purpose of making a visual collection of art movements that will let the reader better understand the ideologies and aesthetic ideals of the Art Nouveau Movement.
Sagrada Famili photo by Clement Celma (unknown)
Background
The Art Nouveau Movement started in the 1890's and lasted until the 1910's. It was a reaction against the academic art of the 9th century (Dewidar, 2018). The movement was similar to the Arts and Crafts Movement, not surprising seeing as William Morris (a founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement) is seen as the philosophical father of the Art Nouveau Movement. Due to its popularity the movement was revived in the 1960's, its predecessors wished to avoid what is perceived as frivolous decoration. The Art Nouveau style was used in poster interior design, glass design and architecture. The above used picture is a photo of a design made by Antoni Gaudi (Celma, date unknown).
The movement was known for using new materials, machine surfaces and focusing on design and erasing unnecessary elements. The Art Nouveau Movement drew inspiration from both organic and geometric forms. Combining flowing, natural forms with more angular forms, allowing normal forms to be freed from roots and gravity unlike in any other movements (Meggs, 1998, p.183). The movements artists were known for depicting woman in stylized and erotic forms, as well as using pale colours (or flat colours that were inspired by Japonisme).
Artifact used as Example
The Precious Stones series by Alphonse Mucha (1900)
A series of Mucha's work is "The Precious Stones" (Mucha, 1900), emphasizes the characteristics of the movement. From the exotic displayed females portrayed in pale colours (colours of the stones used are muted greens, yellows and browns), to the natural and organic forms that are shown in the design. We can clearly see the focus placed on all the flowing forms.
Contemporary Art
A Lady and Red Poppies by Atelier Sommerland (unknown)
Atelier's digital illustration of a "Lady in Red Poppies" (Sommerland, date unknown), is a wonderful example of how the Art Nouveau Movement impacted modern artists. The artists applied organic (floral) shapes used and added a few more angular shapes to the art work. Even though she used a far darker (bright) colour pallet, she still complemented a few classic muted colours like the green she used. It is clear too see that even though the classic movement has been interpreted differently, key elements of the movement has lasted and impacted modern artists like Sommerland.
References
Dewidar, K. (20018). Art Nouveau Style. unknown: unknown.
Gontar, C. (2006, October unknown). Art Nouveau. Retrieved from Met Museum: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm
LeBourdais, G. (2016, November 23). What Is Art Nouveau? Retrieved from Artsy: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-art-nouveau
Meggs, P. (1998). A History of Graphic Design. Unknown: John Wiley & Sons.
Stewart, J. (2017, June 24). Art Nouveau, the Ornate Architectural Style that Defined the Early 20th Century. Retrieved from My Modern Met: https://mymodernmet.com/art-nouveau-architecture/
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