Art Nouveau (Page 8)

Nouveau (/ˌɑːrt nuːˈvoʊ, ˌɑːr/; French: [aʁ nuvo]) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts, known in different languages by different names: Jugendstil in German, Stile Liberty in Italian, Modernisme català in Catalan, etc. In English, it is also known as the Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style). The style was most popular between 1890 and 1910It was a reaction against the academic art, eclecticism and historicism of 19th-century architecture and decoration. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and flowers. Other characteristics of Art Nouveau were a sense of dynamism and movement, often given by asymmetry or whiplash lines, and modern materials, particularly iron, glass, ceramics and later concrete, to create unusual forms and larger open spaces.

Henri Rapin Art Nouveau chairs with curved wooden frames and patterned upholstery in French decorative arts style

Rapin worked as a painter, illustrator, furniture designer, and decorator. From 1903, his furniture was generally simple. From 1910, he began to produce more elaborate designs using exotic materials and carved wood panels by Eve Le Bourgeois and Charles Hairon. These designs were in response to the challenge from the designers of the Münchner Vereeingite Werkstätten für Kunst in Handwerk exhibiting at the Salon of the same year.Read More →