Art Nouveau
Saturday, November 21st, 2009Art Nouveau
How did the art nouveau movement affect artists,architecture, furniture, products, fashion, entertainment, etc?
Art Nouveau [meaning 'the new art'] actually began with a design sensibility rooted in the German publication 'Jugend', meaning 'youth' and the look it pioneered 'Jugendstil' or 'youth style'. Jugendstil is still the name for this aesthetic in much of the world.
Like the Arts & Crafts movement, it was a reaction to the fussiness and formality of what we now think of as the Victorian era. But while A&C was largely rural, nostalgic, and based on concepts of design, Jugendstil was expansive, forward looking, urban and urbane. Every aspect of life could reflect the Jugendstil philosophy.
Whether we call it Jugendstil or nouveau, the root was the same: the young, the new, a celebration of the bright in place of the dull; the curve in place of the straight; the fun over the formal; the naked instead of the clothed.
In visual art, the print and the poster came to the forefront, with bright colors and a stronger graphic sensibility than either the formalists or impressionists had embraced. A more playful approach to the artistic nude, embracing the sensual.
In architecture, the use of swooping lines and curling botanical shapes replaced the stark geometries based on 'classic' greek buildings. Again, a raw sensuality over the formalism of the past.
In furniture, curved shapes, often low and deeply padded allowed for lounging, reclining, and more relaxed postures than was possible in Victorian interiors. In fashion, an abandonment of both corset and bustle in favor of clothing that skimmed the body and reveled in it's contours.
In dance, a raw sexuality where many of the greatest stars performed nude or nearly so in the grand palaces of formal entertainment.
You could drive a nouveau style car wearing nouveau clothes to a nouveau club to listen to nouveau music, and return later to your nouveau apartment fitted in the nouveau style: it was a true revolution.
Sadly, it all seemed a bit flouncey and frivolous when WWI started, and by the time that was over, the world of style had moved on.
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 art nouveau style residential art glass transom window  US $470.00
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 VINTAGE ART NOUVEAU MURRLE BENNETT CARNELIAN NECKLACE US $710.19
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 Sterling Art Nouveau liquor label tag Scotch US $34.99
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 ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU LABRADORITE BOOK PENDANT 1910 US $23.16
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 FINE AMERICAN Art Nouveau STERLING MATCH SAFE Vesta Box US $79.99
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 Staffordshire Art Nouveau Bone China Footed Cup! Silver US $6.99
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 French Art Nouveau Pewter Salt Cellars A E Chanal US $149.00
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 L'ALBUM #1 circa 1902 Paris Art Nouveau Illustrations US $87.50
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 FANTASTIC KERR Art Nouveau STERLING Belt BUCKLE CAMEO!! US $99.00
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 Vintage COSTUME JEWELRY Art Deco ART NOUVEAU Books 2 US $9.99
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 Art Nouveau Ladies Walnut Fretwork Cabinet Furniture US $2,499.99
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 ART NOUVEAU CZECH POTTERY VASE US $29.99
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 Antique Brush Art Nouveau Jardiniere ca 1920 US $9.99
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 ART DECO/ART NOUVEAU BOOK ENDS US $99.00
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 Vintage Art Nouveau Carved Glass Pendant Necklace NR US $206.39
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 ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU ABALONE SHELL CAMEO PENDANT US $13.00
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 Three silver plated nutpick, Wm Rogers, art nouveau US $10.00
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 Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau Jacquard Trim with Shamrocks US $11.99
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 Art Nouveau Ford & Sons ornate Water Jug Burslem ware US $15.42
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 5 Sterling Silver Tea Spoons Art Nouveau Look Lily US $149.99
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 VINTAGE ART NOUVEAU VANITY MIRROR GOLDEN JEWELRY BOX US $29.99
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 WEIBLICHE SCHONHEIT Germany 1904 Art Nouveau Era Nudes US $238.75
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 ART NOUVEAU STYLE FLORAL ROSE PLATINUM DIAMOND RING US $1,100.00
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 REUVEN Nouveau Art Glass - Hand Painted Goblet US $9.95
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And a selection of products from Amazon
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Gustav Klimt (The Kiss, Le Baiser) Art Poster Print - 24x36 Sale Price: $2.19 Average Rating:   |
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Gustav Klimt (The Kiss, Le Baiser) Art Poster Print - 24x36 |
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The Kiss Poster Print by Gustav Klimt, 24x36 Sale Price: $2.85 Average Rating: |
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Decorate your home or office with high quality posters. The Kiss is that perfect piece that matches your style, interests, and budget. |
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Alphonse Mucha (Four Seasons) Art Poster Print - 36x24 Sale Price: $2.41 Average Rating:  |
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Alphonse Mucha (Four Seasons) Art Poster Print - 36x24 |
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George Crumb: Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death Sale Price: $4.90 Average Rating: |
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Plastique Nouveau Sale Price: $0.98 Average Rating:  |
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Features exclusive remixes of tracks by three of the Electroclash scenes most influential producer/remixes, Adult, Ectomorph, and Felix Da Housecat collaborator Tommie Sunshine. 2002. |
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Sound the Deep Waters Sale Price: $13.10 Average Rating: |
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The long-anticipated album contains 11 original and one traditional song. The original songs have myriad influences that encompass the worlds of art, the ancient Greeks and Celts, the country of her birth (Moldova), social activism, and a fierce love and commitment to the Earth... |
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Perfumeria Gal Strawberry Lip Balm - Made in Spain Sale Price: $5.75 |
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The silky and elegant lip balms nestled in art nouveau tins smell so delicious. The size of the lip balm is quite substantial - much larger than your average tin of lip balm. The lip balm has an SPF of 4 and can be used as a protective balm as well as a gorgeous gloss... |
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Fine Art Mucha Fate Decorative Switchplate Cover Sale Price: $4.99 |
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Handcrafted to the highest standards using the artistry of the decoupage technique, artwork is triple sealed with a special sealant to ensure durability,easy cleaning and obtain an enamel like finish. Artwork will not fade... |
Alphonse Mucha - Art Nouveau Visionary (Trailer)