Saturday, 19 October 2013

Context that Changed Design - Entry #4


ART NOUVEAU ……….




The Art Nouveau style became recognized in the 1880s and was sometimes known as the “New Art”.

The philosophy behind this new style of art was that LIFE WAS ART, so this became the art of the people and therefore anything that had to do with life was expected to be treated as a form of art.  The Art Nouveau style, which was based on nature and the organic beauty, was the opposite of the Classical and Academic Art.  Therefore, the rich people were not so happy about this new art belief because until then Classic Art was reserved for them! 

The exponents of the Art Nouveau were inspired by the British Arts and Crafts Movement but, unlike them, they were not concerned with social reforms.  The Art Nouveau Movement was also influenced by the Aesthetic Movement, especially by its use of motifs taken from nature.  Other influences were Rococo (France), Celtic art, Japanese art, Egyptian art and Gothic Revival.   However, the Art Nouveau designers and architects did not use any past design ideas, not even from other cultures, even though they mostly admired the Japanese approach to nature.  They came up with original ideas, and they considered nature as the true source of all good design.
 
There were several architects and designers who contributed to the development of the Art Nouveau style, including Victor Horta, Hector Guimard and Henry van de Velde. Victor Horta, who was a Belgian architect, was in fact one of the greatest exponents of this particular style, with Hotel Tassel (1892-1893) being one of his first architectural examples of Art Nouveau. 


 Alex Coopey. (2013). Art Nouveau. [Online Video]. 04 February. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vik4YYcG_D4.
[Accessed: 19 October 2013]

 

Victor Horta

 
 Jean Ferrat, (2011), Victor Horta [ONLINE]. Available at: http://lembellie-bruxelles.blogspot.com/2011/05/victor-horta-lost-world.html
[Accessed 19 October 13]

 

The famous staircase in Hotel Tassel by Victor Horta

 
Paula Byrne, (2007), The famous staircase in Hotel Tassel [ONLINE]. Available at: http://19thcentury.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/victor-horta-architect-of-the-art-nouveau/
 [Accessed 19 October 13]
 
 

Hector Guimard

The Red List, (2013), Guimard Hector [ONLINE].
 Available at: http://theredlist.fr/wiki-2-18-392-1335-1338-1339-view-french-art-nouveau-1-profile-guimard-hector-2.html
[Accessed 19 October 13]

 

The Porte Dauphine Station

 
guimard metro style pic from www.essential-architecture.com
Essential - Architecture, (2013), 1899, the Porte Dauphine station exhibits Hector Guimard's only surviving enclosed edicule of the Paris Métro [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-M03.htm
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 
 

Henry Van De Velde

Henry van de Velde S.jpg

Wikipedia, (2013), Henry Clemens van de Velde [ONLINE]. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_van_de_Velde
[Accessed 19 October 13]

 

Poster

 emmabanana, (2010), Tropon by Henry van de Velde in 1899. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://thevisualarchive.blogspot.com/2010/10/art-nouveau-work-featuring-aubrey.html
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 

A distinguishing graphic design style was developed.  This included typography styles, as well as a characteristic manner of drawing the figure of a female.  Examples of this particular style are the prints of Aubrey Beardsley and Alphonse Mucha.  Mucha was also one of the first creators of posters produced in the Art Nouveau style.  His first poster for the play "Gismonda" became very popular and other designers were inspired by his work.
 
Gismonda, click for larger image
 
 
 marisayutub. (2010). Alphonse Mucha - Art Nouveau. [Online Video]. 23 July. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSIZC8-ksqY.
[Accessed: 19 October 2013]
 
 
Other important examples of Art Nouveau style include the glass and jewellery design of Lalique, as well as the stained glass and other designs of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Emile Galle. 
 

Rene` Lalique

 Art Deco master glass designer - Art Nouveau master glass designer - Art Nouveau  jeweler - Art Deco   jeweler
O My Opera, (2013), Le Génial Jules-René Lalique [ONLINE]. Available at: http://my.opera.com/montcha670629/albums/showpic.dml?album=875659&picture=11985154
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 

Dragonfly Corsage (gold, enamel, chrysoprase stones, moonstones) by Lalique (1897-8)

 

  H Y D R A , (2011), Dragonfly corsage Lalique 1897-1898 [ONLINE].
Available at: http://el-hydra.blogspot.com/2011/03/rene-lalique.html
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 

 Louis Comfort Tiffany

 Louis Comfort Tiffany
gaukartifact , (2013), Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933) [ONLINE]. Available at: http://gaukartifact.com/2013/02/27/louis-comfort-tiffany-1848-1933/
 [Accessed 19 October 13]

 
 

Tiffany’s “Wisteria” lamp (circa 1902)

 
& ampersandVintage Modern, (2013), Tiffany’s “Wisteria” lamp, c. 1902 [ONLINE]. Available at: http://ampersandvintagemodern.wordpress.com/
 [Accessed 19 October 13]


 

 Emile Galle

 
 Macklowe Gallery, (2013), Emelli Galle` [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.macklowegallery.com/education.asp/art+nouveau/Artist+Biographies
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 
 'Red Onion' wheel carved cameo vase with a marquetry glass foot, a removable leaf-form stopper and an engraved signature to the side by Emile Galle
 
Rare Emile Galle Vase to be Offered at Auction.
 News-Antique.com, (2013), Emile Galle 'Red Onion' wheel carved cameo vase [ONLINE].
[Accessed 19 October 13]
 
  
 
Other References:

Art, Design, and Visual Thinking. 1995. Art Nouveau . [ONLINE] Available at: http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/decart/artcraft/artcraft.htm.
[Accessed 19 October 13]


Codex 99, (2011), Gismonda, 1894 and recycled for the 1896 American Tour [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.codex99.com/design/85.html
[Accessed 19 October 13]

 
Book: Fiell, C.F and P.F, 1999. Design of the 20th Century. 2nd ed. Germany: Taschen

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