A R T N O U V E A U
BY JESSAMI VAN DER MERWE- RXX4FT1Y7
B l o g I n t e n t i o n
This blog is created for the purpose of curating a virtual collection of historical artifacts being compared to contemporary examples. Each blog will be representative of a specific Art Movement with the influence and characteristics of that movement being analyzed. This forms part of my ACVL100 (Visual Literacy) Assignment 3 for first year Graphic Design at Pearson Institute of Higher Education.
Characteristics and Influences
Art Nouveau is an international art movement derived from the french meaning, "'New Art." Art Nouveau was also known as "Jugendstil" in Germany, "Sezessionstil" in Austria and "Style Guimard" in France. This was a modern art style that made its mark from 1890 to 1910 in Europe and the United States and was an influence in: architecture, furniture, crafts and designs. This movement was inspired by nature, especially the meandering trails found in climbing plants and curved line-work (LeBourdais, 2016). Art Nouveau was characterized by abstract lines and organic shapes used for decorative and texturing purposes (LeBourdais, 2016). Asymmetrical curvilinear lines, some known as the "whiplash" line, along with floral patterns were prominently used in France and Belgium yet places such as Scotland and Austria embraced a more geometric and balanced style of Art Nouveau; a style used commonly in furniture to appeal to a larger audience (Wainwright & Miller, 2004). It was common to create flat areas within the design with use of muted or dusty colour palettes which were defined by bold dark outlines (Wainwright & Miller, 2004).
A r t e f a c t o f f o c u s :
The Dance by Alphonse Mucha (1889)
The Dance was part of Alphonse Mucha's Colour Lithograph Illustrations series known as "The Arts". This particular piece was influenced by natural elements, some of which is noticeable in the shell-like patterns adorning the crescent in the backdrop (McDaniel, 2009). The overall colour palette is inspired by the seasonal autumn colours; oranges, pinks, browns and yellow accents (Pound, 2018). An Autumn breeze is depicted by the woman's flowing hair and cascading satin's, petals are falling from the flower embellishing the females hair, these petals are also representative of leaves which fall in Autumn. This coincides with Art Nouveau's influence of nature (Pound, 2018). Besides the frame, there is no use of geometric shapes but instead, a theme of using organic line-work. This is evident in the gender of choice used; females are often depicted with very little harsh and structured design yet instead created with soft curvilinear lines that create a feminine appearance (Pound, 2018). The figures hair billows in a voluminous way, a structure continued in her clothes which are suggestively about to wrap around the figure as well as frame the subject. A circle, taking form of a crescent, frames the females upper body which helps to create balance within the design- this was a very common way to frame figures within this movement.
C o n t e m p o r a r y C o m p a r i s o n :
Beyond the Permafrost by John Dyer Baizley (2012)
2nd Album Cover for American Band Skeletonwitch
This is a more modern art work designed by John Baizley which is influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. The design includes natural motifs as it shows the relationship between life and death as a natural occurrence- depicted by the skeletal figure with a skull head and decaying hands. The setting appears to be in a snow covered forest with suggested metallic snowflakes in the far left- this suggests a winter theme being an influence in the design and returns to Art Nouveau influences of incorporating nature and seasons within the movement. The branches are rigid yet embrace a twisting style which incorporates a theme of using romantic, curvilinear lines within Art Nouveau design. The antler adorning the skull's head is drawn in the same curved manner. The antlers act like a crown with a jeweled snowflake emblem in its center; this suggests a mythical theme often depicted within the art Nouveau designs as creating fantasy-like atmosphere was also a main influence. The design has a mostly muted colour palette.
R e s o u r c e s a n d R e f e r e n c e s
DesignerGirlee. (2011, August 21). Art Nouveau. Retrieved from DesignerGirlee: https://designergirlee.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/art-nouveau/#:~:text=It%20has%20two%20general%20trends,curvilinear%20form%20called%20Art%20Nouveau.&text=Line%20together%20with%20form%20conveys,transforming%20them%20to%20their%20intentions.
LeBourdais, G. P. (2016, November 23). ARTSY. What Is Art Nouveau? .
McDaniel, S. M. (2009, October 11). #10: Dance, by Alphonse Mucha. Retrieved from Ideas Made of Light: http://www.scottmcd.net/artanalysis/?p=46
Pound, C. (2018, November 13). ARTSY. How Alphonse Mucha’s Iconic Posters Came to Define Art Nouveau.
Wainwright, J., & Miller, J. (2004). Art Nouveau. Burlington: Collectors Guide Publishing.
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Mucha Image:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks0977.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F183555618522%2Fthe-arts-dance-1898-alphonse-mucha-czech&psig=AOvVaw1TYg3kCR1PZ2UAJ2xKEluj&ust=1597486229029000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLjw44y6musCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Baizley Image:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.es%2Fpin%2F436497388879550153%2F%3Famp_client_id%3DCLIENT_ID(_)%26mweb_unauth_id%3D%7B%7Bdefault.session%7D%7D%26from_amp_pin_page%3Dtrue&psig=AOvVaw3GrInkSIUrmlJv9xT6x8UQ&ust=1597486342539000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCJDz88S6musCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
