Art Nouveau (1890–1910)
Art Nouveau developed in the late 19th century, flourishing roughly between 1890 and 1910. It emerged across Europe and the United States, with important centres in Paris, Vienna, Brussels, Glasgow, Barcelona, and Prague.
The term Art Nouveau means “New Art” in French. The movement sought to break away from historical revival styles and academic traditions, creating a modern visual language suited to a rapidly changing world.
The driving force behind Art Nouveau was a desire to unify art and design. Artists wanted to bring beauty into everyday life through architecture, interiors, posters, furniture, jewellery, and textiles. Nature was a primary source of inspiration—seen in flowing lines, floral motifs, and rhythmic patterns.
Art Nouveau also reacted against industrial mass production by celebrating craftsmanship, though it paradoxically embraced modern materials and printing techniques.
The movement faded by the outbreak of World War I, giving way to more simplified, geometric styles such as Art Deco and later Modernism.
Artworks to be inspired by-
You may like to try to reproduce the Alphonse Mucha artwork.
Alphonse Mucha – Gismonda
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Date: 1894
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Medium: Colour lithograph (poster)
Gismonda is a large theatrical poster created for actress Sarah Bernhardt. The figure stands tall and elegant, framed by decorative patterns, stylised flowers, and a halo-like arch. Flowing lines, flattened space, and ornate details dominate the composition, creating a highly decorative and harmonious image.
This poster exemplifies Art Nouveau’s defining qualities: organic, sinuous lines, inspiration from nature, stylised female forms, and the integration of text and image. Mucha elevated commercial art—posters and advertising—into something refined and artistic, which aligned with the movement’s aim to blur the boundary between fine art and applied design.
The emphasis on beauty, craftsmanship, and decorative unity makes Gismonda one of the most recognisable and influential works of the movement.
Artists to Research:
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Alphonse Mucha
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Gustav Klimt
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Hector Guimard
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Émile Gallé
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Aubrey Beardsley
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Koloman Moser
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Antoni Gaudí
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Louis Comfort Tiffany
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Charles Rennie Mackintosh