Art Nouveau

The late 19th century was a dynamic and exciting time in the western European art world. Boundaries in artistic hierarchies were pushed and expressive styles were developed. As a result, the birth of many new artistic movements occurred, including the emergence of Art Nouveau. 

Considered to be an elegant yet powerful style, Art Nouveau ('New Art') emerged during the late 1800s. The term was first coined in the 1880s in the Belgian journal L'Art Moderne, when it was used to describe the artworks by the artist collective Les Vingt. Like many other artistic communities across Europe, the Belgian artist collective wanted to break free from the restrains of academic standards and critical expectations. Consequently, steps were made towards blurring the boundaries between the higher-ranking fine art and decorative arts which were seen as a lesser form of craft. 

This trajectory was influenced by the already established Arts and Crafts movement. They were focusing on returning to handcraftsmanship and using traditional techniques. Additionally, Europe during the turn of the century saw an influx of Japanese art on the market after trading rights were established in the 1860s. This wave of new types of artworks, mainly in the form of prints, influenced how Art Nouveau went towards aestheticism. 

Characterising the Art Nouveau style

The primary characteristic of Art Nouveau was in its interpretation of the unruly natural world. Artists would often create undulating asymmetrical lines within their work using flowers, animals, rivers or other sinuous natural forms. Geomatic shapes and bold decorative compositions were also adopted to create a distinct style that encompassed their desire to move away from the restrictions of traditional art. 

The purpose was to infuse their works with a powerful sense of rhythm, dynamism and elegance. These works included a wide range of formats, such as architecture, applied arts, graphic work and illustrations. In fact, the Art Nouveau designers endeavoured to intertwine both high and low art within one piece in order to achieve a Gesamtkunstwerk or 'total work of art'. This resulted in many highly decorative pieces of furniture and decoration, sometimes even entire collections of interior design projects. 

Although it was a relatively short lived, Art Nouveau is considered to be the first modern art style influencing many major artistic movements that succeeded its existence. Such movements include Modernism and Art Deco.