ART NOUVEAU STYLE
The free-flowing Art Nouveau style has its roots in two significant influences that were popular at the end of the 19th century in Europe: the focus on hand-craftsmanship from the Arts and Crafts movement and a fascination with the decorative arts from Japan, known as Japonisme. Eventually the name for the decorative arts produced during this brief period of time from roughly 1890 to 1920 came to be known as the Art Nouveau style, which had a large sweeping influence across Europe and the US.
Hallmarks of the opulent and sensuous Art Nouveau style are swirling, fluid, curvilinear lines used rhythmically and repetitively and a great emphasis on natural, organic forms and motifs, such as vines, tendrils, roses, tulips, poppies, peonies, and wisteria. This style was born out of an emphasis on hand-craftsmanship and Art Nouveau designs required highly skilled artists, which resulted in significantly higher price tags. As the middle classes were enamored with the Revival styles, the very wealthy desired a new, modern style that was only available to those with significant disposable income.
Perhaps the most famous Art Nouveau artist is the American Louis Comfort Tiffany, whose father, Charles Tiffany, opened a swanky jewelry store in Manhattan in 1834. Louis Tiffany traveled to Europe and was greatly impressed with the modern Art Nouveau style, but was equally fascinated with the mosaic art he saw in Italy. His stained glass creations, including window panels and lamps (beautiful lampshades were needed to shade the new invention, the light bulb), have become known as Tiffany glass and carry phenomenal prices today. The iridescent poor man’s version of Tiffany glass became known as Carnival glass.