Art Déco and Art Nouveau are two stylistic movements that have significantly impacted art, architecture, and design, but they represent different ideals, aesthetic expressions, and periods. While Art Nouveau is a romantic and organic style, Art Déco focuses more on modernism, luxury, and technological progress.
What is a Stylistic Movement?
A stylistic movement can be described as a trend or direction with a shared aesthetic and philosophy. These movements often respond to societal changes, reflecting the spirit and values of those who create within them. Each movement defines a particular era and frequently influences future generations of creators. The differences between Art Nouveau and Art Déco reflect the transition from the 19th century's emphasis on nature and craftsmanship to the 20th century's focus on technology and speed. This makes them distinct yet historically interconnected stylistic movements.
What Characterises Art Nouveau?
Art Nouveau was popular for a relatively short period, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Art Nouveau draws inspiration from organic shapes and lines, often based on natural motifs like plants and flowers. It features flowing, sweeping curves and asymmetry.
Typical Art Nouveau items. Glass vase, table lamp in calamine, armchair from first part of the 20th century, centrepiece and box in porcelain and gilt calamine by Wong Lee 1895, copper frame mirror, ceiling lamp in metal and glass, ceramic vase by Gunnar Wennerberg, tray in earthenware and copper, screen wall in four sections with motifs after Alphonse Mucha.
The vision of Art Nouveau was to create a new style, free from strict historical design traditions, as a reaction against mass production. Art Nouveau is also known as Jugend, after the German word for youth. The name signifies a sense of radical renewal and youthful freshness. Art Nouveau, or Jugend, sought to emphasise the beauty of handmade objects and was employed in architecture, furniture, jewellery, and advertising posters. We see it in everything from floral wallpapers to colourful lampshades and jewellery crafted from precious metals. In glass and ceramic production, works by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the US and Émile Gallé in France are notable examples of this era. Art Nouveau's most immediately recognisable characteristic is the curved "whiplash" line.
What Characterises Art Déco?
Art Déco became popular during the 1920s and remained influential until around 1940. This style followed Art Nouveau and flourished during the interwar period. It reflects technological progress and modernisation.
Typical Art Déco items. Bayard travel clock, wall mirror, ceiling lamp in green-colored opal glass, figurine on an onyx base, book shelf, floor lamp, walnut veneered side table, vases, glazed flintware, Rörstrand by Ilse Claesson, armchairs, second quarter of the 20th century.
The Art Déco aesthetic is more focused on geometric shapes, vertical lines, and symmetry than the organic forms found in Art Nouveau. Art Déco tends to use blocks of bright colours and metals, in contrast to the more subdued tones of Art Nouveau. Art Déco emerged from a desire to blend modern functionality with aesthetics. It developed during technological advancement and increasing industrialisation, influencing its modern and machine-inspired appearance. The style is streamlined, with an air of elegance and luxury. Art Déco was widely used in interior design, furniture, and everyday products. For instance, refrigerators, toasters, and vacuum cleaners were designed with smooth metal surfaces, chrome details, and geometric patterns.
One of the foremost exponents of the Art Déco style was the Swiss designer Jean Dunand – a master of lacquerwork whose Art Déco furniture and decorative pieces remain highly collectable today. Among the pioneers and most vocal proponents of the Art Déco style was the French furniture and interior designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. During this same period, Swedish Grace emerged. It can be described as a Swedish version of the Art Déco movement but with a distinct Nordic feel and a more pared-back aesthetic than in other countries. The breakthrough for the style came at the World's Fair in Paris in 1925.
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