Yarrow Nouveau Image Courtesy of York Wallcoverings
This article will explore the new demand for Art Nouveau as we enter the age of AI. We will show how it is being used in fresh ways to adorn our walls for a much needed dose of nature. Dramatic flourishes, graceful winding curves, and motifs full of florals and animals blend together in a way that is uniquely appealing.
Anyone who has ever witnessed the rapid growth of a vine placed in just the right spot with the perfect blend of soil and sun knows how satisfying the results can be. As technology expands at breakneck speed we crave the basics of what makes us human and nature is at the heart of it. If there ever was a movement that captured the dramatic and determined feel of nature unleashed, Art Nouveau is that.
Brief Overview of Art Nouveau as an Art Movement
Inspiration from nature is one of the core themes found in both fine art and applied arts. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the style of Art Nouveau. Thriving against the backdrop of the Industrial age the movement was born. Art Nouveau was defined by curves, sometimes highly stylized motifs, and ethereal beauty. As people moved into the cities and a more urban environment there was a backlash of bohemian culture at the center of Art Nouveau. Much of the Arts and Crafts movement was influenced by the movement too.
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William Morris, Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec were a few well known artists of the era. .Art Deco followed on the heals of Art Nouveau but relied more upon angles and geometry. While the two movements are distinct they do have much in common and there is some transitional work that exhibits elements of both styles .
Emergence of Art Nouveau
As Art Nouveau emerged onto the art scene, it influenced every aspect of both fine art and the decorative arts. Architecture, fabric, furniture, and wallcoverings. Here are just a few examples ranging from this iconic Metro station entrances in Paris, France, wrought iron work by famed architect Hector Guimard.
…to the restored grandeur of various buildings in Brussels, Belgium shown in this article by Messy Nessy Chick. It contains photos of some of the best examples of how walls, floors, windows, and wrought iron all were blended together to form beautiful interiors in the style of Art Nouveau.
205 Hotel Tassel in Brussels, Belgium by Architect Victor Horta, as shown below. is another great example of the use of iron and concrete with flourishes that define the style.
Nature as a Core Motif
As I alluded to earlier with my reference to the curving and fluid lines found in the work of artists from the era, the style of Art Nouveau sought to capture not just the motifs found in nature but the ways in which they came to life in art. This may be at the core of its appeal today. No other style mimics nature so eloquently as Art Nouveau. The ways in which flowers and vines meander throughout space so gracefully is retained in vintage work as well as modern interpretations. A wall featuring an Art Nouveau motif structure is an instant transport to the garden or forest.
Animals are also very common motif found in work from the time period and it is being reinvented in work today. This example shows how many of the works used a forest theme.
Artistic Elements Inspired by Nature
Leaves, herbs, animals, and flowers are the basic elements seen throughout the style and those continue to be popular in the re-imagined art today.
It is interesting to see how the artists of the time continue to inspire interior design and specifically wall art today.
Alphonse Mucha was well known for his posters of French actress Sarah Bernhardt and other advertising graphic art for products such as beer and Moet et Chandon. The popularity of those posters led to one of the biggest contributions made by Mucha elevating print work as an art form. This paved the way for some of the most exciting minimalist and maximalist designs today.
In addition to pioneering the “Mucha style” of Art Nouveau, these works immensely improved printmaking’s artistic reputation. Prior to Mucha, printmaking mostly existed in the realms of woodcuts, engravings, and etchings. However, in the 1890s, Jules Chéret, a French artist celebrated as the “father of the modern poster,” introduced the color lithograph.
My Modern Met
Another important artist of the era was Gustav Klimt. I had the opportunity to see Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also known as the Lady in Gold up close and personal a few years ago in New York. It can be found at the Neue Gallery Museum of German and Austrian Art. You many know the story of the stolen painting which was eventually returned and now resides permanently in the Neue Gallery. There was even a fascinating movie, The Lady in Gold, made that tells the story. If you have a chance to see it, do, it is worth the watch! This painting is part of his golden phase and his use of gold leaf.
This is a view of a multi panel reproduction of his Tree of Life work in a contemportary setting.
Connection to Natural Philosophy
The relationship between Art Nouveau and the broader cultural fascination with nature during the time was also influenced by scientific discoveries of the time in biology and botany giving rise to artistic interpretation in botanical illustration. The work of English naturalist Clarence Bicknell, famous for his butterfly studies, demonstrates how influential these findings were to the art that followed. While not considered artists of the Art Nouveau movement in the classic sense, many botanists and others in the field drew beautiful symmetrical watercolor drawings of their work and these found their way into the work of other artists.
A Revival of Nature Inspired Design in Modern Aesthetics and Sustainability Efforts
This modern interpretation from the Ronald Redding Arts and Crafts Collection of wallpapers, York Wallcovering is a great example of trending looks in wallpaper today. It retains the roots of Art Nouveau and Art Deco with a botanical theme of a watercolor graphic design called Calluna. It has an updated color palette with elements noted as “burnished metallic”. It can be used to fill a wall or as in this case as a backdrop for a wall of windows. Paired with the neutral sofa, warm wood coffee table, and sustainable sisal area rug it is a perfect look for today.
I love how this room pairs oversized Art Nouveau wall and ceiling murals with warm woods, color coordinated lush upholstery, and modern lighting.
Murals and Print Sets are having a moment too. Art Nouveau designs that have been reinvented within those mediums and are a great way to incorporate a feeling of nature that mimics a window into the landscape.This 3 print set is a great example made from forest prints of the era.
Art Nouveau can be surprisingly versatile too. It is not limited to one style. The wallcoverings below are both in the style of Art Nouveau. The image to the left features a classic Art Nouveau wallpaper with reduced saturation and soft palette of muted grays and off whites. It provides a perfect compliment to the rustic bench and earthly brick flooring in a modern updated farmhouse .
The photo to the left is one of my favorites because it layers an Art Nouveau inspired print on top of an art decor design. Effective layering is one of the key components of Maximalism. I love the results!
What is old is new again. To the left is a great example of the classic William Morris Strawberry Thief design reinterpreted in a fresh and fun modern way, perfect for a powder room.
On the right is an oversized floral design. I love that this is a really small powder room made spectacular with bold pattern.
I am an affiliate for William Morris Wallpaper too, available on Amazon. If you have interest in purchasing, here is the link to the full collection by Jiff Diff Design Store.
Conclusion
The world is moving faster today than at any time in history. Talk of AI and how it will transform our society is real, exciting, and a little frightening. Art Nouveau, born in the industrialization age at the turn of the last century, was a response to a changing world. A desire to return to nature is at its core. Is it a coincidence that it has come around again? Probably not. Moreover, it is likely to be with us to stay. Bringing nature into our homes can bring beauty but it also provides much needed rejuvenation in our modern world. Don’t we need a little nature in our lives?
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