Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau was an artistic movement popular from 1880 to 1910. It aimed to create an integrated style that influenced fine art, architecture and applied arts. Art Nouveau artworks employed curving, asymmetrical lines, organic motifs and a colorful palette.
Art Nouveau emerged as a reaction against the rigid order and historicism of 19th-century art. It was inspired by natural forms and aimed to harmoniously integrate art into everyday life. Key proponents included architects Victor Horta and Hector Guimard, and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha.
In architecture and interiors, Art Nouveau fused structure and ornament. Stained glass windows, staircases, fireplaces and furnishings were conceived as a cohesive whole. Buildings had asymmetrical shapes, undulating lines and pagan or seasonal motifs.
In painting, prints, posters and illustrations, Art Nouveau incorporated angled contours, Japanese-inspired compositions and mystically elongated figures, especially of women. Art Nouveau graphics developed a distinctive visual repertoire based on curved lines and flat decorative patterning.
Art Nouveau spread internationally, gaining popularity for promoting a total artistic vision. However, the movement was short-lived. Critics argued its curving lines and decorative excess lacked intellectual rigor. By 1910, Art Nouveau gave way to 20th-century modern styles.
Nonetheless, Art Nouveau shaped modern architecture, graphic design, and illustration. It rejected the strict order of prior design movements in favor of organic, harmonic beauty expressed in meticulously crafted details. At its best, Art Nouveau created an alluring dream world of unapologetic sensuality, freedom of line and lyrical grace. Its vision of art as a way of life still inspires today.