christopher navarrete professor trofimova art history … · the art nouveau movement was very...

Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018

Cooper Hewitt Paper

From the outside, the Cooper Hewitt museum appeared to be quite large because there were several buildings that seemed to

connect with one another. When I approached the museum, the logo that rested on the fence immediately caught my eye

because it was almost 3D. I had never seen anything like that in person, so it surprised me so much that I took a photo (above).

Beyond the fence, there lay the garden and café. In the garden, museum-goers are able to sit down and relax as there were

several chairs and benches laid out. Unfortunately, I came to the museum on a rainy day, so no one was outside. Despite this,

the garden didn’t seem very special as it lacked any kind of flowers and trees (it was mostly just a grassy area). I then went

inside the small café and realized the museum seemed much smaller on the inside; the corridors were tight and packed with

customers. Because it was the morning, the room was filled with the sweet aroma of coffee.

After walking out of the café, there was an area where people could hold and buy items (I believe this was the museum shop).

There were jewelry necklaces, various books and some art items. For example, there was a sheet of cloth that had a light bulb

penetrating it. Surprisingly, such a simple piece cost around 250 dollars to purchase. Vases and other furniture-like items where

displayed in long glass containers too. There may have been some items for children too because it was especially packed with

elementary students. Next-door was a small lounge area that had large windows surrounding it. Customers mostly found

themselves using this room to read books that were in the shop.

I then went to admissions and purchased a student ticket, which came with the Cooper Hewitt sticker. I was told that I was

given access to the three floors. The first floor had a white room with several technology based items such as old telephones,

calculators and an iPhone. In the center of the room was a red and black motorcycle that seemed to be used for racing. Also,

the first floor had several areas dedicated to accessibility technologies, such as a wheel chair. There was also a white wall with

images of cubes that gave off an amazing 3D effect. Unfortunately, unlike the other museum attendees, I did not have 3D

glasses, so I could not see the full effect of the artwork.

In the second and third floors, there was an area that had several miniature hand-made structures. They were mostly wooden

and architectural based as they depicted staircases and parts of houses among others. This was easily my favorite display of the

Cooper Hewitt museum because it was just breath taking. There was also a long wall with what appeared to be black fur. I am

not sure what animal it came from, but it was very soft and pleasing to touch. In addition, the museum contained several areas

dedicated to sense, smell, cognition, and colors. However, I did not stay in this area for long because I was more attracted to

the typographic pieces. One, for example, was of Paula Scher. Paula Scher is easily one of my favorite artists because her

designs are just bold and different. She tells a story and shows motion with the use of type.

Overall, my trip to the Cooper Hewitt museum was quite fun and interesting. I usually do not find museums to be very

compelling, but this one in particular held my attention as they had a variety of interesting design pieces. I would love to go

again and look at the pieces more closely in order to study them.


1. The Miller Blues Band Poster (1967) designed by Victor Moscoco

This poster is most likely from the psychedelic poster design movement, which originated in the late

1960s. It was a movement that was based off of drug and hippie culture. Pieces in this movement

generally sought out to tell a statement about society. They typically do this by using bright and vibrant

colors that contrast each other, hard to read type, curved lines, and using or manipulating pop culture

images. Psychedelic posters were commonly associated with rock music as they were used for several

bands, including the Miller Blues band (above). Notable artists in this design movement include Wes

Wilson, Victor Moscoco and Peter Max.

This poster displays the characteristics of the Psychedelic design movement in the following ways:

It was for a band (which is very common in this design movement).

It was created during the psychedelic poster movement craze (late 1960s.)

It uses a repetition of curved lines (this effect is inspired from psychedelic drugs).

It uses bright and vibrant contrasting colors (red and blue).

The type is somewhat difficult to read.

It uses a real-life image and manipulates it (the colors are removed and replaced with a high

contrast red).


2. Ewer (1800) manufactured by Sevres Porcelain Manufactory.

This vase appears to follow the guidelines from the Art Nouveau design movement. The Art Nouveau

movement was very popular during the 1890s through 1910. It was generally nature based in its design

and color as pieces were very organic and plantlike. For example, an artwork may use various flowers,

birds, vines and female faces. The movement can be traced in Japan as Ukyo-e, which translates to

“pictures of the floating world.” Ukyo-e artists used woodblock print and made works realistic and

nature based pieces. The art nouveau style was used in architecture, furniture, fashion and

advertisements among others. Notable artists in this design movement include Aubrey Beardsley,

Eugene Grasset and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

This vase displays the characteristics of the art nouveau design movement in the following ways:

It uses lines that seem to be based off of vines and flowers.

The vine-like lines are repeated throughout the vase.

Its colors appear to be very nature-like (lavender and green).

The handle of the vase has a smooth and swift curve that is reminiscent to nature.


3. Atoms for Peace Poster (1955) designed by Erik Nitsche.

This poster appears to have some hallmarks of the Bauhaus design movement. This movement

originated in Germany at the Bauhaus design school from 1919 to 1933. The school of Bauhaus was

popular during its time and created very simple and straight to the point artworks in architecture,

graphic design and product design among others. This modern design style was mostly created by

students and faculty.

Advocates of Bauhaus believed that their way of design was logical as it was geometrical and

minimalistic. One major hallmark of the Bauhaus style is the use of the Bauhaus type, a sans serf font

used almost exclusively for this movement. Famous artists in this design movement include Herbert

Bayer, Lazlo Moholy-Nagy and Joost Schmidt.

This poster displays the characteristics of the Bauhaus design movement in the following ways:

It is very minimalistic because there is only type and shapes.

It is straight to the point and clear in its message.

The background is plain and has a light brown color (common in Bauhaus posters).

It is geometric in its design because of the shapes.

There is a focus in color.


4. Prosthetic Leg Covers (2011) designed and manufactured by McCauley Wanner (Photo taken from

Cooper Hewitt website).

This piece is most likely is inspired by the Victorian era. The Victorian era began after Queen Victoria

took the throne in Great Britain from 1819 to 1901. This time period was seen as time for strong morals

and optimism. This design movement was often filled with pieces that contained several design choices

and philosophies that contradicted with one another. Overall, there is generally symmetry, dense design

and ornamental design in Victorian era graphic design.

This piece displays the characteristics of the Victorian era design movement in the following ways:

It is symmetrical in its design.

It appears to have an ornamental design style.

It is dense with design.

There is some contradiction in the design as several parts are very different from one another

(there are plant designs, rectangles, etc.).


5. Knoll International poster (1967) designed by Massimo

Vignelli.

This poster is most likely inspired from the international type style

design movement. The international type style (also known as the

Swiss style) originated in Switzerland and Germany during the

1950s. It is famous for placing design elements on a grid, having

information that is clear, and using sans serif type such as

Helvetica and Univers.

Overall, designers in this style believed clarity and order should be

the main priories in graphic design. Famous international type

style designers include Ernst Keller, Armin Hoffman and Emil

Ruder.

This poster displays the characteristics of the international typographic style design movement in the

following ways:

It is asymmetrical

It uses flush-left alignment.

It uses overlapping type.

The overlapping type is transparent.

It uses sans serif type.

The font used appears to be Helvetica (commonly used in international type style).

A grid may have been used (commonly used in international type style).


6. Chanin Building Pair of Gates (1928) designed by René Paul Chambellan (Photo taken from Cooper

Hewitt website).

This piece appears to have hallmarks from the Art Deco design movement. The art deco movement

began in France some time before World War I. It is very modern and high-end as it was associated with

wealth during its peak. As a result, it was commonly used in hotels, for example.

Art deco was generally used in architecture, graphic design, jewelry and fashion among others. Overall,

the art deco design movement is very geometrical as it mostly uses rectangular shapes, uses san serif

type, expensive material, and was very clean and simple in general.

This piece displays the characteristics of the art deco design movement in the following ways:

It uses rectangular geometric shapes.

It is symmetrical.

The material used appears to be expensive.

The design is very elaborate.


7. The Diva is Dismissed poster (1994) by Paula Scher

(photo taken from Cooper Hewitt website)

This piece likely takes some inspiration from the design

style movement known as Constructivism. Constructivism

began in the 1920s in Russia (after World War I). Artworks

during this time were very political and took inspiration

from cubism and futurism.

Constructivism pieces are famous for including black and

white images, red and yellow colors and san serif type

among others. Notable artists from this design movement

include El Lissitzky, Gustav Klutsis and Alexander

Rodchenko.

This poster displays the characteristics of the Russian constructivism design movement in the following

ways:

It uses the color yellow.

It has a photograph of a person in monotone.

The woman in the poster seems to yell the type.

The type is slanted.

The type is san serif and bold.

It has an asymmetrical design.


References

Cooper Hewitt website: https://www.cooperhewitt.org/

Meggs’ History of Graphic Design

christopher navarrete professor trofimova art history … · the art nouveau movement was very...

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