Art Nouveau

Voluptuous curves and inspirations drawn from nature, Art Nouveau and its productions fascinate. International and multiform, it is anchored in an exciting historical context and deploys its language in all areas of decorative arts...

Historical context

Art Nouveau has its roots in the English Arts & Crafts movement, around 1860 From this artistic movement was born a desire to blur the boundaries between art and craftsmanship. It is a so-called total art which deploys its language in multiple fields, architecture , decorative arts, painting, sculpture…

In Paris, in 1868, La Païva, a famous courtesan and demi-mondaine of the 19th century, had her apartment decorated with very extravagant furniture which would mark the beginnings of Art Nouveau. thereafter, ornamentations inspired by nature, presence of female sculptures

At the end of the 19th century, decoration inspired by the Renaissance and tinged with orientalism was very fashionable Sarah Bernhardt lived in an apartment furnished with oriental objects

In 1875, the architect Viollet-le-Duc published his Dictionary of French Architecture and we then witnessed the return of the styles of the Middle Ages, reminiscent of the past. From a societal point of view, the industrial revolution and its lot of technical progress, makes possible the elaboration of new forms It is in this artistic and cultural context that Art Nouveau takes root

The Art Nouveau period is dated around 1884-1904 This term was born following the opening of Siegfried Bing's shop called "Art Nouveau", in 1895 He presents the creations of this new movement In Europe, he wore a lot many names, “Jugendstil” in Germany, “liberty” style in England, “Tiffany” style in the United States or even “floréal” style in Italy…

In France, Paris and Nancy are the two central cities for the expression of this style. We can mention in Paris Hector Guimard, entered into posterity thanks to his metro entrances and Emile Gallé in Nancy, known mainly for his glassworks The exhibition universal of 1900 will bring Art Nouveau to its peak, the greatest artists of the time will present their creations there and will be praised by critics

From a formal point of view

Initially, Art Nouveau was called the "noodle style" because of the use of curves and arabesques, taking over symmetry and straight lines.

The ornamental themes that we find can be summed up in three words: woman, fauna and flora Putting nature back at the center of artistic creation, such is the key word of this current It is a real decorative revolution Asymmetry is also an important criterion, Hector Guimard said: “Symmetry is in no way a condition of art, as many people affect to believe; it is a habit of the eyes, nothing else”

In terms of the colors used, they are soft, rather pastel or even iridescent

The philosophy of Art Nouveau

Behind Art Nouveau, we find strong social values Realizing beauty in the useful, raising the level of education of artists and workers, equality between the minor arts and the major arts "Execute to serve and adorn to to please” said Emile Gallé Art Nouveau is also a desire to make art for everyone, art for the people Architecture, furniture, production of posters, art is everywhere. The First World War will mark the end of the inspirations of Art Nouveau