Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is referred as the ''new art form'' for the new century, it was popularized only for a short time between the 1890's and 1910, since people got tired of seeing a lot of decorative designs around them, including curvatures and detailed designs that include leaves, different sort of insect types, that were being applied on, products, interiors, architecture, clothing, and much more.

This is an Art Nouveau perfume bottle that is made out of glass and sterling silver that is overlay. As noticed the design includes lots of curvatures with leaves. The form of the perfume bottle itself is also has it's own curvatures and sense of delicacy, elegance and class.

Classic Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Overlay perfume bottle

These are Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer collection clothing. As we can see the first two from the left, the models that are worn in white are wearing clothing that includes lace representing curvatures and details that are influenced from the Art Nouveau style. The two models that are next to the models that are worn in white, have a lovely Italian print representing the Art Nouveau decorated design, including soft punchess of colour which was applied on material, embroidery and beading may have been added on the outfit. Then there's the last model that is on the right, wearing a light soft green colour dress that has a v shaped lining and sultry tunics in a mix of lace. All five extraordinary outfits have their own particular detail to reveal the style of Roberto Cavalli's fashion.

Art Nouveau Roberto Cavalli spring/summer 2013

I include one great German-Austrian, named Michael Thonet who's known for the invention of bentwood furniture. The rocking chair shown in the picture could be the first design that Michael Thonet has designed back in the 1860's. Long curvatures and lots of spiral decor in the chair is applied. At the time of Art Nouveau designers and architects still believed on applying extra decorations to the material.

Rocking chair No.1, Koritschan, Moravia by Michael Thonet,1860 

As one could obviously notice, looking at the Charles and Ray Eames chair the design has got at it's simplest organic form. Representing this picture as an example, to show the developed evolution of the chairs, on how the design has continued replicating the older techniques, re-transform it and apply it to the adapted style. It is how Charles and Ray Eames have experimented with materials and added on the same function of the original rocking chair.
 

''Rar'' by Charles and Ray Eames

The picture below is of Victor Horta who was a Belgian architect and designer, 1861-1947. At times Horta used to be creditted as the first to introduce the style to architecture from the decorative arts, especially in Belgium.

Victor Horta has built a hotel in Brussels called 'Tassel'. It was built for the Belgian scientist and professor Emile Tassel. The hotel was considered as the first Art Nouveau building, as it had high innovative planning and its chosen ground use of material and decorations. As one could see the 1st floor has a strong element of the style, the windows that are in stained glass, are separated by stone and columns. Then looking at the 2nd floor gallery you can see it with high iron, columns and clear glass to let in light for the interior. This is found to be very original as a choice of material and structure for the facade of a house. Looking at the 3rd floor the terrace is just with iron railings.

Hotel Tassel built by Victor Horta 1893-94

In this picture we can see the interior of the Tassel hotel designed and created also by Victor Horta. Horta as an interior designer, he has shown the ultimate of his skills, on decorating and designing in every single detail, such as: door handles, woodwork, panels, windows that are in stained glass, mosaic flooring and the rest of the furnishing. The amount of detailed work of this hotel, specified on the art Nouveau style is incredible, the way Horta has combined the luxury of the style and applied all the design in the interior is glorious. 

Victor Horta, Van Eetvelde House, Brussels, 1895

Hector Guimard is a very important figure in Paris, since he was the one who has introduced the Art Nouveau style. Guimard was another designer that he used to build as a whole including the wallpapers, furniture, floor tiles, stained glass, doors, tiles and much more.

What we can see in the picture is the entrance for the metro station. The way Guimar has designed it, the roof looks like a fan or rather the tail of a pigeon. The interior glass panels are all made in stained glass with the same patterned design that have long, sinuous, organic lines. As noticed the structure is all based on art Nouveau curved style made in iron.

Subway entrance in Paris by Hector Guimard  

Looking at another interior design example representing a classical, art Nouveau style decorated with leaves and stylistic forms of structures in furniture, railings, decorative coving and columns. As noticed this large villa has lots of wide stairs and wide open area, this also includes a classical order column that is called -Tuscan. The style of this large house shows a mixture of styles, yet it kept its unique look with decorative touches.

Art Nouveau, interior design

Compared to nowadays the design of most apartments are being minimized with small rooms and everything in a compact way.



References:

Bottle, C.,2016. Classic Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Overlay Perfume Bottle. [online] Ruby Lane. <Available at: https://www.rubylane.com/item/472318-101x20RL3489/Classic-Art-Nouveau-Sterling-Silver-Overlay> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Intern.strabrecht.nl, 2016. Architectuur Art Nouveau. [online] Available at: <http://intern.strabrecht.nl/sectie/ckv/08/Art-nouveau/Architectuur/CKV-f0001.htm> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Products, T., 2015. Thonet – Variety of Products. [online] Museum-boppard.de. Available at: <http://museum-boppard.de/explore/thonet-varietyofproducts/#singleobjects> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Mandylor, S., 2012. Art Nouveau Fantasy: Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2013. [online] It's All Style To Me. Available at: <http://itsallstyletome.com/2012/09/25/art-nouveau-fantasy-roberto-cavalli-springsummer-2013/> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Art-nouveau-around-the-world.org, 2016. Hector Guimard (1867-1942). [online] Available at: <http://www.art-nouveau-around-the-world.org/en/artistes/guimard.htm> [Accessed 31 May 2016]