Art Nouveau

​The Art Nouveau movement began during the early 19th century around 1890 until 1910 and swept across Europe and The United States. The recent influences from Japanese culture contributed to this artistic period, but mostly art nouveau was a creative expansion from the usual historical art that was previously accepted. During this period artists were collaborating and experimenting with different materials and techniques, it was painting, glass work, illustration, jewellery, and architecture to name a few. Artists were inspired to visually display work that was crafted from a more dream like world of their imagination by combining nature and religion, real life forms and geometric by using long lines that flowed for the viewers eyes in an elegant and stylish manner.
Over Europe Art Nouveau was distinctly influential however I believe it was grasped so beautifully from the Architecture that was created from this time especially in Vienna, Glasgow, Nancy and Madrid, the artists used the city and skyline as their own canvas with their own influence and expression for all to see.
In Vienna major artists transformed Vienna into an architectural metropolis. Otto Wagner and Joseph Marie Olbrich were 2 of the main artists leading Vienna into the Art Nouveau movement. Architects were inspired to create buildings that were structurally bold and beautifully symmetrical, adorned in lavish ornamental decorations such as marble, gilding, bold colours and florally embellished.
Otto Wagner was dominating the Art Nouveau movement in Vienna with his work being unmissable around the city. He designed residential buildings such as the famous Linke Weinzeile NO.38 that is lavishly decorated in gold floral designs on sleek and fresh walls to give focus entirely to the beauty of the building. Wagner also designed Church’s, railways stations and his own villas.
Otto Wagner employed Joseph Marie Olbrich in 1893 and was incredibly influential in Vienna’s art movement. In 1897 The Vienna Secession was founded by Olbrich, Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffman and Koloman Moser. This artistic collaboration resulted in a grand building called The Secession Hall, this was created and designed by Olbrich and was Europes first ever building holy dedicated to modern art, this was a pivotal moment in the world of art and the display of the building sets it apart from the usual architecture that had been around for years before, clearly stating a change and a step forward was happening during this period in time.
Artists and creators such as Olbrich and Wagner produced outstanding beauty for people to capture in their everyday lives in Vienna, this art movement was not just for galleries.

Vienna

​Nancy in France was another European city that was heavily influenced during the Art Nouveau period the 19th century. A group of artists and designers created Ecole de Nancy or Nancy Art school during the art nouveau movement. These artists grew inspiration from nature and plant forms with the mix of science created art and architecture. Nancy was renowned for its art and design which resulted from art nouveau. Architects created Nancy into an abundance of decorative displays which was influenced by the school of art.
Emile Galle was a talented glass artist who helped combine the art world and architectural to collaborate Art Nouveau. Buildings in Nancy were designed with floral patterns and decoration paired with smooth curves, the architecture was less structural and cornered and instead archways and window frames consisted of a looser style with rounded lines.
The city of Nancy was vastly impacted by the creation of artwork, design and architecture during the Art Nouveau period in France the area was becoming more populated and even challenged Paris for it’s cultural and artistic fame. Other cities such as Glasgow and Vienna’s architecture were more urban whereas Nancy’s was not, the city was relishing in beauty and design. Tactically large retail stores were commercially using architecture from Art Nouveau to stand out and gain commercial success just from the appearance of buildings.
As with any art movement, things are always moving forward, and Art Nouveau died out during the early 1900’s however Nancy carried on creating for another 10 years after it had faded throughout Europe until World War 1 began. 

Nancy

​Art Nouveau was strong architecturally which makes it very recognisable and at a larger scale however as well as building design and decoration it was seen in many different areas. Art Nouveau was about Artists experimenting from using different materials to techniques but of a wider range than usual, influence was found through Graphic Design, paintings, design, architecture, and craft art.
Glasgow was uncommonly expected to be on the list of places that had a big hit through this time. Again, another group of like minded artists who revolutionised the old Victorian ways of the art world into the modern era.
Glasgow’s art nouveau was slightly different to the romantic architecture in Nancy and luxurious buildings in Vienna, the designs in Glasgow consisted of smooth textures and sweeping lines usually finished with an ironmongery design of floral and natural forms above window frames and doorways. I believe the artistry throughout Glasgow are more in keeping with the traditional gothic architecture, whereas in Vienna buildings such as the Succession are made to stand out, to be noticed.
A charming and strong example of art nouveau in Glasgow can be found in the Willow Tearooms which was designed inside and out by Charles Rennie Macintosh who was a well-known artist and designer and part of ‘The Four’ a group of designers and artists who helped shape Glasgow’s visual arts as it is today. He brought Glasgow into the world of modern art with his take on art nouveau and was highly successful throughout this movement and designed several popular buildings. The Willow tearooms he designed boasts tall flowing lines that represent a modern aspect in the furniture and with beautifully decorated glass. His work was a much more understated type of Art Nouveau compared to Madrid and Vienna where the buildings are loud and show themselves off however the architectural designs created in Glasgow were still of a different style at the time but to our eyes now seem very modern as the lines made are sleek with crisp and delicate detail. 

Glasgow

​Lastly Madrid was also made popular from the architecture that was created during the early 19th century. Antoni Gaudi is one of the most well known and influential artists from this time. His reputation and interpretation of the Art Nouveau period is most famed for his extremely elaborate designs.
I believe out of all these cities the art nouveau movement was the boldest and striking in Barcelona and Madrid from Gaudi’s work. His representation of natural forms coinciding with religious aspects of his own beliefs added with the technical and scientific engineering were ingenious. His work rivalled all and had influences from traditional Catalan style, gothic, French Avant Garde and Oriental.  He designed buildings with fluid forms and bold eccentric colours and patterns. Sadly, Gaudi’s work remains unfinished such as Santa Coloma de Cervelló and the iconic Sagrada Familia, yet they are still jaw droppingly beautiful and ornate, his masterpieces and design innovation lead this revolution of modern art. 

Madrid