Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau was prevalent from 1890-1914 and developed from Arts and Crafts to focus on looking forward with excitement and optimism, and as the first truly modern style which did not rely on the past for its influences.

Works included female figures with long flowing hair, and flowing sensual lines. It feature the natural world with flowers and buds. Female nudes feature heavily and in a sexualised way for the first time. Influences were from outside the UK - worldwide communication was becoming easier and shrinking the world, and Japanese influences, brought to the UK by Liberties of London, were introduced to the masses. As well as Japanese influences, the earlier Arts and Crafts, also featured. Gustav Klimt, Lautrec, Munch, Beardsley, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Horta, Lalique, Mucha, Behrens and Gaudi all worked in the Art Nouveau style. Art Nouveau work included jewellery, painting, print design, and architecture. Advertising and marketing was becoming more popular as commercialism expanded. It spread across the world and was embraced by the Americans (the east coast, mid-west, and California) as it embodied their whole forward thinking modern culture. They had a much more commercial approach and were materialists. They did not have the socialist ethical views of their English counterparts.

Art Nouveau work was very diverse and the artists were prolific producing work in many disciplines.

Mackintosh worked with stylised florals, stained glass and furniture, and his work often featured heavily stylised females in soft muted colours. He was a member of the Glasgow School and produced this piece for The Scottish Musical Review. He worked with his wife and 2 others as the Glasgow Four who were very influential in the movement (Eskilsson, 2012).

Beardsley worked with high contrast black and white imagery, nudes, sweeping curves, metaphorical images and myth, and was heavily influenced by the Japanese style. He worked primarily in woodcut. This is The Dancer's Reward.

Gustav Klimt's work was very different - opulent, sensual and passionate. The work on the left is The Kiss.

Toulouse-Lautrec was an artist and graphic designer focused on poster design. Moulin Rouge: Le Goulue. He was renown for his advertising and marketing work with designs such as Le Chat Noir.




















Unlike Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau embraced mass production and new technology, and reflected that in its designs with swooping lines and whiplash curves. Mostly the work was in flat colours (sometimes with texture, but not with depth), with solid outlines and often included flowers, buds and seeds. They liked pre-raphaelite nudes with long flowing hair, exotic woods, opulent glass, and silver and semi-precious stones

Consumers of these products could present themselves as wealthy and well travelled, as reflected in the subjects and influences of the works.

The Paris Metro signs were designed by Hector Guimard. Hill House in Helensburgh near Glasgow was an example of the architecture, along with the Glasgow School of Art and the V&A have a huge collection of their art. Art Nouveau artists were prolific and produced varied bodies of work - Mackintosh produced furniture, glass, print and paintings.

Artists such as Monet, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Ensor, Munch and Lautrec where influenced by Art Nouveau.