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There is a very distinct difference between a design movement and an art movement; the root of the matter goes back to the essential question, “what is the difference between art and design?” Art is an act of creating an aesthetically pleasing piece with no significant function, while design is the act of using art to give an object a scheme, purpose, or function. Essentially, an art movement is a

period of time where artists during any era of history created an abundance of artwork to share with others, while a design period is a time where form and functionality came into play with the aesthetics of the object. There are usually different styles that are included with each time period that make it a significant part of history, hence why it is called a design movement. A design movement in particular that is well-known throughout history and the present is Art Nouveau.

Art Nouveau was a design movement during the years of 1893 - 1895 which spread out to urban areas from 1895 - 1900. “Art Nouveau” essentially means “new art” in French, thus implying that it was a period that introduced a num-ber of new techniques and forms to that day and age.It is considered to be “one of the most complex,

intellectual, and aesthetic forces in the history of decorative art (Greenhalgh, 2000).” Since Art Nouveau was a very significant art period, it had many different classifications of design within it: interior and object design, jewelry design, and advertisement design. While each of those sub-categories are made up of different mediums and materials, they each have a consistent, recurring style that has made a name for the design period throughout history.

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The main objective of Art Nouveau design was to create a decorative style that combined all types of mediums in art including sculptures, graphics, architecture and decorative arts alike. As a result, two of the most important genres of style during this design period were the interior design and decorative design aspects. Overall, Art Nouveau was an urban-based style that was meant to decorate streets and interiors of industrial cities.

From the ads and posters that adorned the street walls to the intricate staircases in the lounges and hotels of the urban scene, the Art Nouveau design style was taking over major industrial cities. One city in particular was Paris, France. Generally speaking, Paris was the artistic core in Europe during this time, and has continued to carry its reputation to the present date. Paris produced many design-ers that contributed to the design period, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Hector Guimard.

Guimard was considered the most signifi-cant of Parisian designers at the time, he was asked to design the entravnces for the city’s new subway system. The iron struc-ture that made up the subway entrances

is considered one of the most iconic examples of Art Nou-veau even to this day. These entrances use very “organic and tense linear style (nga.gov),” create a very environmen-tal, nature inspired element within the populous, urban city. Toulouse-Lautrec, however, dedicated his artistic talents to graphic design, poster design in par-ticular. Influenced by Japanese Art, and their strong outlines and bold, flat patterns, Toulouse-Lautrec designed decorative posters for cafe-concerts. His style of graphic design was very dis-tinct and intrinsic, using mostly warm tones to bring out the calm aura of a cafe or restaurant.

Hector Guimard Paris Metropolitain Entrance

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Aside from Paris, many other cities saw examples of Art Nouveau adorning their streets: Munich, Vienna, Glasgow, Turin, New York, and Chicago. The de-sign period didn’t last too long throughout history, being as it had only lasted about a decade or two. However short the period may have been, it was defi-nitely a brief, brilliant moment in design history, decorating urban life in all

major cities around the world. Art Nouveau’s style revolved around organic, plant-like lines with transitional elements that were inspired by the past and nature. Pattern were definite ex-amples of the types of design seen throughout Art Nouveau. They acted as a decorated element in interior design, usually wallpaper on walls, patterns for clothes or furniture, or book covers.

Examples of Art Nouveau patterns: Organic and plant-like lines

Floral, feminine, organic: Art Nouveau style

Ernst HaeckelActiniae (Anemones) Example of organic life

Art Nouveau incorporates ornamental elements, such as spirals, swifts, swashes, and florid decoration.

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As previously stated, architecture and interior design played an important role during the Art Nouveau design movement. Art Nouveau design in general was categorized as “dynamic, undulating, and flowing, with curved ‘whiplash’ lines of syncopated rhythm (www.neworleanspast.com),” and thus their interi-or design was just as such. Following the floral and plant-like design style, most

fences and staircases were molded in iron or metal with swirly accents and intricate curves.

Victor Horta in particular was a famous architect who created a perfect exampleof Art Nouveau interior design style. With the curving lines and warm toned colors, the style has an overall nature-like feel to it. The staircase , along with the wall and window designs, have very or-nate, intricate swirls with little leaves and floral elements. The over-

all design is very cohesive and stays true to the Art Nouveau design characteristics.

Victor Horta Belgium 1893

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O ne other important yet related category of Art Nou-veau design is the decor design. Any room or building is not complete without the decorative appliances, fur-niture or decor items balancing out the overall design. For instance, the Art Nouveau styled chairs and china

cabinets were very geometrical, using traditional materials in innovative ways. An example of that would be molding wood into new shapes or creating that familiar curvature that is seen throughout the rest of Art Nouveau design. Usually with enamel or copper mounts, most of the furniture of this time were very organic looking and very reminiscent of nature. Brussels was also considered one of the centers of Art Nouveau. Using structure with curvilinear elements abstracted together, furniture and other objects conveyed the true stylistic elements of Art Nouveau.

O ther decorative objects consisted of lampshades, sculptures, cups and vases. Cups, in particular, were very unique and different than what was nor-mally used at this time. Lamps and cups were made with metal framing and painted glass, creating a

beautiful, artistic look and feel for the objects. The base and shaft of the cups were just as beautifully designed, with curved or twist-ing metals and flower/leaf-like elements hanging off the side. This was very reminiscent to the floral and nature aspect of Art Nouveau.Lampshades were decorated with floral designs and bright colors to serve as inspirational lighting for studios.

Bustave Serrurier-BovyCabinet-vitrine

Snowdrop CupJacob TostrupsThorolf Prytz

Table lampLillian Nassau

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T hough England wasn’t really home to any significant Art Nouveau treatments, Glasgow, Scottland was the birth place of a new direction in the design movement. Art Nou-veau began to see elements of “vigorous industrialism, modernity, and ethnic pride (nga.gov).” Art Nouveau,

and many artists who contributed to the movement, was very inspired by Japanese art. For instance, the Japanese were known for using plenty of floral patterns as well as the colors red and black., which seem to have car-ried onto the characteristics of simple Art Nouveau styles. Art Nouveau was also known for its linear restraint, rectilinear geometry , and stylized plant and figurative forms. Glasgow, like Brussels, was also known for producing plenty of furniture, architecture, and decorative glasswork.

Lamps, as stated before, were also common during this design move-ment. The glassware depicted nature-like scenes and were usually very fantasy-like. For instance, the image to the left is a bronze and carved glass lamp with firey colors to resemble flames , as well as em-inate bright light. Simplicity is never really key in Art Nouveau, as

all objects and decor are usually over the top in terms of their form and functionality.

Louis Comfort TiffanyThree-panel screen

Louis MajorelleDaum FreresLe Figuier de Barbarie

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A dvertising and promotional posters were the next fa-mous peak during the Art Nouveau design movement. Art Nouveau graphic design revolved around flat colors with very little depth and shading as well as dramatic imagery (usually of females), asymmetric and vivid sym-

bolism. Most graphic work also consisted of bold, black lines and out-lines. In fact, Art Nouveau was not taken seriously for a long time dur-ing its brief esistence. Most people did not take the swirly lines and flambouyant, floral aspects of it and thus looked too fancy. The style was explained by its context; posters were demographic, political, and economic, and had a function and purpose behind them other than just looking pleasing to the eye or to serve as artwork in a mere cafe. Instead, posters and ads were meant to not only advertise events, but they were to convey a message to the viewer in terms of current events and history in the making. They even had religious relations within their designs.

A as previously stated, Art Nouveau was mainly used for urban settings and cafe-concerts. Most posters adorned the walls of said cafes Alongside posters were bookcovers, packaging, and product ads.

Theophile SteinlenLe Chat Noir

Example of flat, vivid colored graphic lithograph

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T hese posters and ads are examples of the distinct Art Nouveau style of the design move-ment. Each poster, while very different and conveying different ideas, are very similar in many ways. For instance, all three subject matters consist of a redheadded female and how they would act in their everyday lives. “La Loie Fuller” represents the idea of sym-bolic and decorative styles, while “Divan Japonais” demonstrates the influence of Japa-

nese stylistic devices. For example, there is a silhouetted, flat patterning with assymetric composition, elongated figures, and bold outlines. These features were very popular during this design movement.“Gebrande Koffies De Gulden Bie” is a perfect example of how designers used to use women in their ads and packaging to sell products. That particular poster was used for selling coffee.

Jules CheretLa Loie Fuller

Henri de Tou-louse-LautrecDivan Japonais

Adolphe Crespin Gebrande Koffies De Gulden Bie

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Newcomb Pottery Vase

Newcomb Cup

Art Nouveau illustration

V ases were also common during the Art Nouveau period. Hand-crafted objects were constantly being made, with intricate, flo-ral designs that represented na-

ture and beauty. This particular vase was created with cool color tones of blue , green, and white, resembling vines and pretty little flowers. The paint is rather watercolor-esque, appearing to be a bit washed out and faded. This brings out a sort of class and homage to old art styles as well as stay true to the essential Art Nouveau style.

Alongsidegauntlets and lamps, tea and cof-fee cups were also crafted during the Art Nouveau time period. Created with incised lines and underglaze, faded painting, the cup naturally depicts a little flower around

it, therefore staying true to the nature aspect of this design style. The black outlines are very similar to the graphic de-sign illustrations of Art Nouveau, thus all examples of design within this time period seem to be consistent and relative.

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Rene LaliqueWoman’s corsage ornament

Art Nouveau illustration

Art Nouveau illustration

L astly, another genre of style and design dur-ing the Art Nouveau is jewelry design. Just like the rest of Art Nouveau

characteristics, their jewelry was very ornate and detailed.Since Art Nouveau revolved around depicting scenes in na-ture and environmental elements, drag-onflies, flowers, and butterflies were

constantly made into pendants, broches and corsages for women. Beautiful stones and

gems were used to create such jewelry, however, it was not the price of the pin itself that was important during these times, but the fact and value of the gems themsevles.There was such detail and ordinance put into each jew-elry design that they were strictly unique and beautiful in their own ways.

A rt Nouveau was a style and design period that will be remembered for years and years to come. The feminine, ornate and intricacy with curvilinear accents complete with swirls and floral elements. The style and design itself is very beautiful and avante-garde with constant detail and very different types of art and design work that are both beauti-ful and thought provoking. With all the curves and geometric shapes, the eye is con-

stantly moving and discovering new angles or beautiful motions throughout the intricate designs.

Works Cited1. Markowitz, YvonneWard, Susan. “Art Nouveau Jewelry.” Ornament 31.5 (2008): 29. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 30. Nov. 2011.

2. Greenhalgh, Paul. “Revisiting the Style of ART NOUVEAU.” USA Today Magazine 129.2664 (2000): 36. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 30. Nov. 2011.

3. Heller, Steven. “Nouveau Redux. Print. 60.6 (2006): 26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.

4. “Art Nouveau.” National Gallery of Art. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.nga.gov.feature/nouveau/exhibit_city.html>

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