Art Nouveau
Also known as: jugend · Art-Nouveau · Art Nouveaustijl
- 1Popularized internationally between 1890 and 1910.
- 2Characterized by sinuous curves and forms inspired by nature.
- 3Utilized modern materials including iron, glass, and concrete.
- 4Developed as a reaction against 19th-century academicism and historicism.
- 5Features asymmetry and dynamic lines to create a sense of movement.
Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts.
Connections3
broader international movement context
Casa Milà is a pinnacle of the Catalan variant of Art Nouveau, known as Modernisme, which emphasized organic forms and naturalistic motifs.
broader international artistic movement
Casa Batlló is a quintessential example of the Catalan variant of Art Nouveau, sharing the movement's focus on organic forms, asymmetry, and decorative integration.
stylistic successor and departure from historicist revivals
While Gothic Revival looked to the medieval past, Art Nouveau emerged later as a rejection of such historicism in favor of organic, modern forms.
Art Nouveau was an influential international style that flourished between 1890 and 1910, primarily during the Belle Époque. It emerged as a deliberate reaction against the rigid academicism, eclecticism, and historicism that dominated 19th-century design, favoring instead a fresh approach rooted in artistic expression and modern sensibilities.
Casa Batlló , BarcelonaWikimedia Commons; User:Rapomon; Transferred from the Spanish Wikipedia .; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image)Square Victoria metro station in Montreal. This "Art nouveau" métro entrance was given by the RATP in 1966 or 67. This is the only genuine one outside of Paris.Wikimedia Commons; François Proulx from Paris, France; Own work - SQUARE VICTORIA - Guimard in Montréal; CC BY 2.5; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image)“The Peacock Skirt”, illustration by Aubrey Beardsley for Oscar Wilde 's play Salomé (1892)Wikimedia Commons; Aubrey Beardsley; [1]; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) The style is defined by its inspiration from natural forms, particularly the sinuous, flowing curves found in plants and flowers. Practitioners often utilized asymmetry and dynamic, whiplash lines to create a sense of movement. By embracing modern industrial materials like iron, glass, ceramics, and concrete, architects and artists were able to construct unusual, fluid shapes and expansive open spaces that departed from traditional architectural norms.