Art Nouveau was one of the styles that had its day, but has seemed to pass over. The hay day so to speak is a thing of the past, or for some at least. Although now it seems to be making its way back.

Art Nouveau was a short lived period of design which was used in art, architecture, and furniture design. It began around the nineteenth century and lasted until the beginning of World War 1. It was a very popular design in Europe around this time with Belgium and France as the centers of the movement. The name itself means ‘new art’ in french, but is a miscontrued definition for what it truly is. Art Nouveau began as a reaction to the rather rigid form brought on during the Victorian age. It was felt as an entirely new style which needed to be developed to move the art and expression into the industrial day and age. Although its inspiration came from older styles found during the gothic and rocco ages. Consider it a blend if you will of Gothic, Rocco, Japanese and Java with a flair of Persian and Celtic backgrounds.

Art Nouveau was and has been highly stylized. Free of form with flowing lines. Decorations incorporated the japanese sense of nature and moved away from the classical subjects that were used before. Seaweed, grass, and even insects gave not only to the designs but implementation of form. It stressed the exuberance via its bright colors and less rigid form. The lines themselves made their own statement with line after line seemingly exploding into spirals and growing out of control.

The turn of the century is when it hit its peak. Pieces were eagerly sought after by many famous and well known people of the time. Art Nouveau peices found their way into the homes of the rich and famous. Although it was not a ‘timeless’ piece and people soon became bored.

Between the time of 1920 and 1950 critics panned Art Nouveau as the moribund and even ugliest style ever created. Life turned to practicality and function over art and flair. Until 1960 that is, when the Psychedelic movement rediscovered the Art Nouveau and felt that it had a long kinsman ship. Swirling lines and rejected Nouveau pieces quickly became sought after and began to soar in value. Art Nouveau is blend of new and old, and invokes the vision of what a generation of dreamers envisioned would be their 20th century, before wars and economic crisis ruined their dreams.