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Art Nouveau


Art Nouveau is based in Europe. Most of the masterminds behind this movement all came from different parts of Europe except one. Louise Comfort Tiffany, the creator of beautiful decorative vases and lamp, he was established in New York. Originating after the first world war in the late 1800, Designers and Architects started designing flourishing design that included reparative nature symbols such as insects and flora combining it with ‘whiplash’ curves that gave a sense of delicate and sophisticated ambience. Designers and architects started including decorative design to everything that they spawn.


Japanese art inspired this movement due to the opening of relations with the Asian continent. The woodblock prints became an inspiration to European artists.  Also, the designers and artists were inspired from the Arts and Craft Movement. By then these artists interpreted the Japanese style and Arts and Crafts movement into a new style such as we know it today ‘Art Nouveau’ or ‘New Art’.





'Japanese wood Block Prints'
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h5/h5_JP3341.jpg[image]

William Morris “Snakeshead” printed textile.
http://deepcreekinns.com/blog/2014/01/arts-and-crafts-movement/[image]



The aim of the movement was to replace mass producing the same product to a well-made original and authentic product.


Cabinet by Louis Majorelle
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/151363237447234125/[image]



The French architect known as ‘Jules Lavoriette ’ incorporated whiplash design to the exterior of the ‘Lavoriette building’ 1901.The architect decorated the whole façade with iconic faunas on gates, doors, and windows along with balconies. He also included various materials to achieve his idea. The architect’s masterpiece made use of engraved stone to the entrance of the building, metal for detailed work found on windows and gates and engraved wood for the doors to enhance the metal work.




'Laviorette Building ' (1901)
http://harmfulgrumpy.livejournal.com/114760.html[image]


Another genius behind this movement is Antoni Gaudi. The Spanish architect also included decorative scenes on the exterior of his buildings. If one studies closely in depth every single part of it, one can see that some of the balconies the curves that are added created a ‘half skull’ also its exterior columns (in front of the windows) impersonate bones. The columns also include detailed floral work around it, complimented with patterned stain glass behind it, including also mosaic features. In the interior of the building, the architect also incorporated this movement’s characteristics. Even though there is no furniture inside the building the material and its structure mirrors the exterior.

'Casa Balto'by Antoni Gaudi (exterior) 
http://www.orangemouse.me/antoni-gaudi-buildings-casa-batllo [image]

'Casa Balto'by Antoni Gaudi (interior)
https://www.vuelaviajes.com/las-joyas-modernistas-de-barcelona/[image]


How can one determine an interior/exterior of a building or products have been designed or inspired from art nouveau movement?  

Art Nouveau has its unique characteristics that one should look at, apart from having ‘whiplash’ curves, the movement has:


  •       Line flow
  •       Organic forms
  •       Depiction of Nature
  •      New materials (Gems, steel, glass)
  •      Ornamental

Which are found on:


  •      Furniture
  •      Accessories (necklaces, brooch, headpieces)
  •      Interior products (lamps, pottery, wallpaper etc.)
  •      Textiles (curtains, towels,
  •      Metalwork  (gates, windows, columns)

This movement also is found in Malta. Many included this beautiful yet functional design into different places in their houses.


Residence in Naxxar (Malta) photo taken by Erika Borg on 4th May 2017 at 1.35pm


The 21st Century artists that are inspired by this movement:

'Bar Raval' by Patisian 
http://www.partisanprojects.com/projects-index/bar-raval[image]






References: 

 'About Art Nouveau Architecture and design' by Jackie Craven (2016)
[info] https://www.thoughtco.com/art-nouveau-architecture-and-design-177450 accessed on: 4th May 2017 at 11.25am

'The Art Nouveau movement ' by Montez McCrary (2015) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgjJU0JpQyM accessed on: 4th May 2017 at11.51am

'Jules Laviorette'  Uknown (2009) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhlZ8vZF5Oc accessed on 5th May 2017 10.46am

AD Classics: Casa Batlló / Antoni Gaudí by Magen Svieven (2010)
http://www.archdaily.com/90689/ad-classics-casa-batllo-antoni-gaudi accessed on 5th May 2017 at 12.03 pm





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