Types of Art Nouveau
There were two main types of art nouveau, work that took inspiration from nature and work that took inspiration from geometry. Work from specific countries can also be split up in this way, with France and Spain being mostly inspired by nature while Glasgow, Germany and Vienna being more inspired my geometry.
Originally inspired by English artists like A H Mackmurdo’s chair design, artists used swirling, decadent lines and insect or animal motifs in the furniture or jewellery they created. Majorelle made furniture which all included excess carved decoration flowing over the design, clearly taking inspiration from plants. Galle was a glass worker who’s lamps and vases all featured plants, trees and earthy colours. Lalique’s jewellery designs predominantly feature insect wings and flowers. Similarly to the Nancy style, the iron fences in Paris, designed by Hector Guimard, also share Frances preference for nature inspired, swirling art nouveau.
Over in Spain Antoni Gaudi’s architecture was also inspired by nature. Including the Sagrada Familia, with the intricate design of the outside and the columns, carvings and stained glass of the inside.
In comparison to France and Spain, Glasgow was more into geometric art nouveau. A great example of this is Charles Rennie Mackintosh, most famous for his chair designs. These chairs are tall and include many parallel lines. It’s quite interesting to see how different artists/ trends from different countries interpret similar things in completely different ways, most art nouveau involves a lot of lines but each artist uses them in their own way.
Vienna’s interpretation of art nouveau was similar to Glasgow’s as they were inspired by Mackintosh’s work during an exhibition he was in during 1900. Josef Hoffmann was another artist who made geometric furniture, including his ‘sitting machine’ he made in 1908. Koloman Moser was another artist whose work was geometric art nouveau with many of his paintings having checkerboard or simple repeating patterns as backgrounds.
Both of these artists were part of the Wiener Werkstatte, 1903-1932, a group designed to bring ceramics, fashion, silver, furniture and the graphic arts together. As the group was formed due to artists with similar styles meeting, it isn’t much of a surprise the group ended up with its own distinct art style.
Originally inspired by English artists like A H Mackmurdo’s chair design, artists used swirling, decadent lines and insect or animal motifs in the furniture or jewellery they created. Majorelle made furniture which all included excess carved decoration flowing over the design, clearly taking inspiration from plants. Galle was a glass worker who’s lamps and vases all featured plants, trees and earthy colours. Lalique’s jewellery designs predominantly feature insect wings and flowers. Similarly to the Nancy style, the iron fences in Paris, designed by Hector Guimard, also share Frances preference for nature inspired, swirling art nouveau.
Over in Spain Antoni Gaudi’s architecture was also inspired by nature. Including the Sagrada Familia, with the intricate design of the outside and the columns, carvings and stained glass of the inside.
In comparison to France and Spain, Glasgow was more into geometric art nouveau. A great example of this is Charles Rennie Mackintosh, most famous for his chair designs. These chairs are tall and include many parallel lines. It’s quite interesting to see how different artists/ trends from different countries interpret similar things in completely different ways, most art nouveau involves a lot of lines but each artist uses them in their own way.
Vienna’s interpretation of art nouveau was similar to Glasgow’s as they were inspired by Mackintosh’s work during an exhibition he was in during 1900. Josef Hoffmann was another artist who made geometric furniture, including his ‘sitting machine’ he made in 1908. Koloman Moser was another artist whose work was geometric art nouveau with many of his paintings having checkerboard or simple repeating patterns as backgrounds.
Both of these artists were part of the Wiener Werkstatte, 1903-1932, a group designed to bring ceramics, fashion, silver, furniture and the graphic arts together. As the group was formed due to artists with similar styles meeting, it isn’t much of a surprise the group ended up with its own distinct art style.