Research on Art Movements - Art Nouveau

The History of Architectural Design

Assignment 2: Art Nouveau

Ming CHAN Instructor: Mariana Ortega

Date: 16/12/2015 ZAMAN University

Introduction

Art Nouveau is an art movement spanning from 1890 to 1914 ending just before the start of World War I. Art Nouveau is defined by its use of intricate linear designs and flowing curve derived from the natural forms in plants and flowers. It was primarily used as a decorative style and was applied in many fields like architecture, interior design, furniture, jewelry, sculpture, graphical and glass art. . Art Nouveau was a reaction towards the world of art that took references from the past as it tries to encourage artists to draw inspirations from within themselves and the nature around them, rather than looking at the past designs, to break free from the past conventions. Rather than rejecting the technology given by the industrial revolution like Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau artists embraced the new materials and new techniques that the industrial revolution offered.

The name Art Nouveau, which means New Art in French, stemmed from Siegfried Bing's gallery Maison de l'Art Nouveau in Paris that exhibited works of the new arts. Art Nouveau was known by many names depending on the country is was in, it was first developed in England and soon spread to the European continent, where it was called Art Nouveau in France and Belgium, Jugendstil in Germany, Sezessionstil in Austria, Stile Floreale or Stile Liberty in Italy, Glasgow Style in Scotland, and Catalan Modernisme in Spain. The greatest movement of Art Nouveau architecture happened in France, Belgium and Barcelona (specifically Catalonia), Spain. There were many famous practitioners of the style like Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Glasgow, Scotland, Henry van de Velde and Victor Horta in Belgium, Hector Guimard in France, and Antoni Gaudi in Spain.

Art Nouveau in Europe

In Finland, Art Nouveau acted as a symbol for the nation's desire for independence from Russia.

It became a new style for the new nation. The same can be said for Barcelona, as the Catalans wanted to break away from the rest of Spain and express their own culture.

During the late 1800s, Barcelona had a large growing number of wealthy upper class people, due to the booming industry, the upper class felt financially strong in a politically stable environment.

However, the rest of Spain fell into a serious economic and mental depression caused by the loss of

colonies like Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Phillipines. . It was the ideal conditions for a growing national pride of the Catalans. It was the beginning of the Renaixença, the revival of Catalan traditions and the national culture. Backed financially by the rich upper class, the Catalans artists were able to express themselves through their arts and to show the distinct culture of Catalonia through the Cerdà Plan, a plan for the expansion of the city which would create the Eixample, a district between the old city and many small towns. The Catalan Modernisme was an expression of Catalonia's strives for independence, for the revival of their culture. The most important figure in the architectural movement of Catalan Modernisme was Antoni Gaudí. Much of Gaudí's work can be found in Barcelona that illustrates the unique styles of Modernisme like, the Batllo House, Guell Park, the Sagrada Familia (Incomplete), Palau Guell, and many more. Some of Gaudi's work have become cultural landmarks in Barcelona and named as World Heritage Sites.

In Turin, Italy, the name Stile Liberty actually has nothing to do with politics, freedom or social struggle. Instead, it came from the name of a firm Liberty & Co. Ltd., owned by a London merchant name Arthur Lasenby Liberty whose shop specialized in ornaments, furniture, and arts associated with the style of Art Nouveau.

Conclusion

By the second decade of the 20th century, Art Nouveau had begun to decline and become out of favor because the design began to look dated to the people, and people wanted less of the style, also there was the political tensions, conflicts, economics before the start of the First World War. After the war, Art Nouveau evolved into a new art movement called Art Deco.

References: http://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona‐modernisme‐art‐nouveau.html http://www.casalleomorera.com/en/barcelona‐and‐modernism/modernism/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernisme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaixen%C3%A7a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/guest‐column‐the‐social‐agenda‐of‐art‐nouveau/ http://www.britannica.com/art/Art‐Nouveau http://www.artnouveau‐net.eu/Network/ArtNouveau/AboutArtNouveau/tabid/133/language/en‐ GB/Default.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Secession