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The End of a Century - Art Nouveau Style - Page 2

© Barbara Bell

Bing's pavilion at the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition, called Art Nouveau Bing after his shop L'Art Nouveau, was the only French exhibit to gain praise when compared with the artistic advancements of other nations on display. His shop eventually became identified not only with an innovative style but with the international decorative arts movement which came to epitomize "La Belle Époque" and the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. (1)

Although Art Nouveau received its generous share of criticism, skepticism and ridicule, both among the French critics and the British, the style became widely recognizable in daily life. Curvacious lines interweaving into extravagent forms were one of the characteristics of Art Nouveau architecture. In fashion, the "S" curve dominated women's fashions and created an exaggerated, yet unnatural shape. Ornamentation continued to cling in substantial amounts to both clothing and to structures.The most enduring examples of the lyrical, organic, and sensuous ornamentation can be seen today in the few remaining Paris Metro station entrances designed by Hector Guimard. Here can be seen the style that drew on the fluid lines and writhing curves of plants for visual inspiration. Functionality became inseparable from beauty. The social aim was to provide pleasing and uplifting surroundings at a price affordable to a broad segment of society rather than just the priviledged few. Once again, one is reminded of the spirit of William Morris and his Arts & Crafts ideals.

Art Nouveau influenced all elements of design. Some of the artists and craftsmen whose names became synonymous with the period include the American Louis C. Tiffany (stained glass windows, Favrile glass), the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, the French Toulouse-Lautrec (posters of the demimonde, the Café-Concerts, Montmartre), the architects Victor Horta (Belgian), Hector Guimard of the Metro stations fame, and Antonio Gaudi of Spain, and illustrators of popular publications such as Englishman Aubrey Beardsley and Alphonse Mucha, Czech. Often used in collaboration with other contemporaneous styles such as Jugendstil and Arts & Crafts, a typical interior might include carpets and wallcoverings by William Morris, windows by Tiffany, furniture in the Art Nouveau style, in an apartment building fronted with elaborate iron grilles in fantastical organic flowing forms.

For further information and excellent links to a host of Art Nouveau websites, please visit:

F. Van Merendonk's Art Nouveau Collector's Site. Many links to auctions, dealers and information.

Art Nouveau World Wide, by Frank Derville of France. In-depth, extensive and eclectic, this website seeks to gather every possible resource on Art Nouveau available. Great links to individual cities where Art Nouveau architecture can be found.

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