From Nouveau to Deco

A style that took over worldwide and was used for design on applied art, graphic work and illustration, of the time. This was art Nouveau, influenced mostly by styles such as post-Impressionism and symbolism, from which designers took aspects from the natural world.

Henry Van de Velde , Vignette, decorative kunst |||, 1898-1899

The forms of this desk, by Henry Van de Velde, are very flowing and in a natural kind of way. A combination of flat surfaces divided by flowing lines. It is proportionally balanced, being divided equally vertically. It is called the beans desk because of its kidney like shape. Art nouveau varied to all kinds of designs, even illustrations and prints. Such posters are recognized by, their fluid lines, repetitions, patterns and more.

Henry Van de Velde, Poster for the factory trop, 1897, Lithograph Poster

Laurel Lady, Alphonse Mucha, 1901

A painter and a decorative artist of art Nouveau is Alfons Mucha, he mostly portrayed images of women surrounded by nature. This portrait of ‘Laurel’ 1901 shows a lot of varied influences such as, Japonisme, the Byzantine mosaic patterns and post-Impressionism. There’s the cropping style of Japonisme, also the flatness and boldness of color. He gives balance to the painting using a contrast between cool and warm colors. Visual balance along the pattern of the leaves complementing the whole composition. Also the mosaic compliments the whole picture balancing the colors of the figure.

Documents decoratifs, Plate 38, 1902, 

Alphonse Maria Mucha

Although his main composition was of females, you can observe some works that consist of floral patterns only. One such design is ‘Documents décoratifs. Plate 38. 1902’. It is geometrically balanced, using repetitive form of flower and leaves and also contrasting colors. He makes a frieze like design on top that splits the painting in thirds, using the golden ration and also the frieze itself. Using this ratio, it gives perfect balance to the composition of the picture. Use of complementary colors is also effective. This also shows an influence from Japanese art.

Desk, Sir Edward Maufe, London, 1925.
Museum no. Circ.898-1968.
 Given by Prudence, Lady Maufe. ©
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Art Deco followed art Nouveau, and just like art Nouveau, it affected all forms of fine arts, fashion design, product design, film and photography. This desk by Sir Edward Maufe, 1925, which is in the art Deco genre, shows a completely different approach to Van de Velde’s desk. It does not have the same flowing lines or same product functionality. It is more linear; more in a modern approach and silver finish other then the visible vein of wood. It is symmetrically balanced, with only a touch of decoration on the handles. This style is going to influence more modern styles which leads to our modern world of today.

 Szecessziós Magazin, Henry van de Velde . 2014. Szecessziós Magazin, Henry van de Velde . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.szecessziosmagazin.com/magazin9/henryvandevelde150.php. [Accessed 24 November 2014].

Art Deco: The 1925 Paris Exhibition - Victoria and Albert Museum. 2014. Art Deco: The 1925 Paris Exhibition - Victoria and Albert Museum. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/the-1925-paris-exhibition/. [Accessed 24 November 2014]. 

Art Nouveau | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2014. Art Nouveau | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm. [Accessed 24 November 2014].

Japonisme and the Revolution of the Machine

Agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and social culture were all going to see a huge change in the time of the industrial Revolution. With the invention of the steam engine, there was a huge increase in production, and in the manufacturing of more machines. It destroyed the craftsmanship skill, were machines did people’s job and people acted like machines. Mass production and industry dominated society. Apart from stealing away the skill of the craftsman, the revolution brought urban poverty and rise of the middle-class.

Dove and Rose, William Morris, 1879, 

Silk and wool double cloth, 84 x 91.5 cm

William Morris (1834-1896) was one of the greatest designers and was against the machine and the fact that people were becoming robots. He was highly influenced by Japonisme and he was also in the ‘Arts & Crafts’ movement, which encouraged the skill of the craftsman and the beauty of handmade work. He made designs on textiles featuring nature like leaves, birds, flowers and more. One such example is ‘Dove and Rose’, designed in 1879. The background color is vibrant, with dark branches, green leaves, a patterned dove and an open rose, which are repeated several times. It is perfectly symmetrical and balanced. The green is a complimentary color to red so as you can see there’s even a balance with color.

Peacock and Dragon, William Morris, 1878, 

Woven wool panel,264.5 x 241.5 cm

A different approach by Morris on textiles was the use of Islamic colors and eastern inspired designs. One such design is ‘Peacock and Dragon’, 1878, were just like ‘Dove and Rose’ it has the same repetition of patterning that gives symmetrical balance to the design. It is geometrically correct even the creatures have a mirroring effect. The colors are vivid, with the yellow standing out.

In 1853, Japanese had opened trade with the west and there they started opening pavilions in the World Fair to exhibit their oriental objects such as fans and kimonos and also silk, which were flooding in England and France. This was a huge inspiration for artists such as Claude Monet, James Tissot and Edgar Degas of the Impressionist era.

Japonisme also influenced William De Morgan; you can see it in his beautiful vase design collection, which in its form and color shows a reflection of Eastern art. Asymmetrical creatures, patterns and bold color with various patterns are presented in his vases. Even the form was not traditional. There is visual balance with repetition of forms and geometrical patterns.

This was a time when artists started exploring different methods and seeing new techniques and new approach to perception, which changed design and the way designers and artist think.



















Japonisme | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2014. Japonisme | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jpon/hd_jpon.htm. [Accessed 24 November 2014].
The Victorian Era | Graphic Design History. 2014. The Victorian Era | Graphic Design History. [ONLINE] Available at:http://visualartsdepartment.wordpress.com/the-victorian-era/. [Accessed 24 November 2014].

The Original Morris & Co - Arts and crafts, fabrics and wallpaper designs by William Morris & Company | A Full History | British/UK Fabrics and Wallpapers. 2014. The Original Morris & Co - Arts and crafts, fabrics and wallpaper designs by William Morris & Company | A Full History | British/UK Fabrics and Wallpapers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.william-morris.co.uk/a-full-history/. [Accessed 24 November 2014].