Art Nouveau - Analyses and Research(es).

What is Art Nouveau?:

Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially decorative arts. The style was most popular between 1890 and 1910. It was a reaction against the academic art, eclecticism, and historicism of 19th-century architecture and decoration. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and flowers. Other characteristics of Art Nouveau were a sense of dynamism and movement, often given by asymmetry or whiplash lines, and the use of modern materials, particularly iron, glass, ceramics, and later concrete, to create unusual forms and larger open spaces.

One major objective of Art Nouveau was to break down the traditional distinction between fine arts (especially painting and sculpture) and applied arts. It was most widely used in interior design, graphic arts, furniture, glass art, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and metalwork.

Source: Wikipedia.

1)

Louis -Théophile Hingre - Advertisement for a wallpaper company (Charpentier-Deny) - 1890

ANALYSIS

As we can see, this work contains all the elements of “Art Nouveau”, from the glamorously blooming flowers in the background and on the woman to the gorgeous, striking patterns on the accessories and background, all of which combined creating a dynamic artistic masterpiece. Looking deeper into the intricacy of it, this artwork (like many of its time) uses a color scheme including many bright/ pastel colors, radiating tenderness, novelty, and elegance. Even more, the light pink, almost white, roses add more to that feeling, as light, or pale, pink roses are known to epitomize grace, femininity, gentleness, and rapture.

Moving on to the extravagant, luxurious accessories the woman in the artwork is wearing. You can see that her headpiece, which is extremely complex with dynamic curves, is mostly made of gold and 2 types of gemstones. With gold, it has long been linked to a divine sphere and the embodiment of divine qualities from the view of spiritual beliefs; from a symbolic view, the color is associated with radiance, pride, magic, and passion. In addition, gold is closely connected to prosperity, splendor, and allure. Not stopping with just gold, the artist topped all that glamour with pearls and carved gemstones of different shapes and sizes.

Let’s take a look at the heart-shaped stone made of light green turquoise gemstones, wrapped with gold carved in the shape of something reminiscent of a phoenix, which represents perpetuity, resurrection, and power. Turquoise is known to be a protection from negative energies from the spiritual point of view and is symbolic of friendship and peace.

Adding to that are pearls, situated at the woman’s forehead. Pearls are known by many to be the personification of wealth, purity, and integrity.

Next up, at the back of her head, we can see several stones that resemble red coral gemstones cut into different sizes. Red coral is a gemstone of vigor, motivation, and power. Made from the remains of coral polyps, this marvelous crimson stone is the quintessence of the god of war, Mars. The gem radiates an air of action off of the wearer for its vibrance and power.

The artist brought more to the artwork with another glorious crimson, the shade of red paeony flowers. The flower symbolizes many things, some might say it represents bashfulness (if they base it off Greek mythology), but in China, the flower is known as the “king of flowers”. In ancient times, many Chinese dynasties’ royalties believed that clothing with paeony flowers embroidery could only be worn by the Emperor, the Empress, or the Empress dowager. So, in a way, these flowers also embody great power. In modern days, red paeonies symbolize passion, honor, love, and respect.

The artist outlined the woman and her accessories using thick lines. Yet, the thickness of the lines doesn’t send forth the feeling of stiffness but dynamic, flexibility, and grace.

In conclusion, this artwork is one of excellence and brilliance. It is the definition of “Art Nouveau” for it displays all the features of “Art Nouveau”, from the colors, the details, the curves to the flowers and down to every line.

2)

Alphonse Mucha – Reverie – 1897.

ANALYSIS

The lithograph “Reverie” was executed in 1897, originally intended to illustrate the 1898 Champenois company’s calendar. The lithograph was instantly popular and was published in the magazine La Plume with the title “Reverie”.

Using a color scheme that consists of light pastel tones, this artwork creates a sense of elegance and softness for the beholder.

Typical of artworks from this era, the artist used mostly curves and round shapes to decorate the work, from the pattern of the clothes to the flowers and branches, to further highlight the airiness, creating a daydream-like quality to the work (as the name different colors to set off the atmosphere of springtime, even further emphasizing the sublime headiness and creating a fairytale-like scenery, staying true to its name, “Reverie”.

Taking a closer look at the work, we can see that most of the lines used are thick lines. But, despite the thickness, the work doesn’t feel stiff but dynamic and tender, it must be that most big patterns are not repetitive but flexible, and fresh. The colors the artist mainly used are hot colors, somewhat bringing a sense of joy and lightheartedness yet elegant and glamourous to the work.

As I mentioned earlier, the artist used many different flowers, including some that are evocative of orange daylilies. Yellow and orange daylilies are usually used as symbols of happiness, love, bravery, and charm.

Furthermore, the artist also used flowers that are of light pink and a gorgeous shade of red. By using colorful and glamorous fully bloomed flowers of different shades on top of dynamic branches, the artist strongly emphasized the feeling of novelty and creating the scenery of spring while highlighting the dreaminess by not using oversaturated shades. And by putting all those shades around and on the woman, the artist somewhat indicated that she is the representative of life, forthbringer of spring, something of a divine figure.

With all the colors and details, this artwork is truly remarkable in representing “Art Nouveau”. From the beautiful flowers to the dynamic and flexible branches and patterns, this masterpiece ensures that the beholder can feel the fresh air of spring and peak of all things yet still maintaining the tenderness, airiness, and headiness of a fairytale-like daydream. This lithograph is the perfect depiction of “Reverie”.

3)

Alphonse Mucha – Le Zodiac – 1896.

ANALYSIS

Compared to the previous two, this artwork consists of darker tones, like the deep red with overlapping gold patterns and the deepish green leaves.

This piece quite obviously takes inspiration from astrology and has a spiritual theme (from the zodiac signs to the gemstones and the small drawing on the bottom). Like the other 2, and most artworks from this era, the artist mainly used thick yet dynamic lines, creating the feeling of ease and flexibility.

Looking at the details at the bottom of the art, we can see a sunflower, which represents the sun, and a crescent moon with flowers as background. Between the sun and moon is a drawing of 2 people, one with bird-like wings, which are usually the characteristic of an angelic figure, the other one with bat-like wings, which usually belong to demonic figures. With the sunflower, the moon, and these two opposite figures shoulder to shoulder, the work creates a sense of harmony, peace, and calmness. With just that part, we can see how this artwork is heavily influenced by spiritual themes.

Moving on to the woman and her extravagant clothing and accessories on top of her stunning looks, her gorgeous headwear is made from gold with intricate decorative patterns and multiple glistening crystals and gemstones. From the perspective of sacred traditions, gold has always been synonymous with a sacred realm and the depiction of the heavenly essence; from a symbolic perspective, the color is associated with radiance, pride, power, and passion. Adding to all that, gold is associated with wealth, magnificence, and beauty.

Besides gold, the white crystals are the most noticeable. In western Christianity, crystals are usually used to decorate religious objects of great importance and it is thought that they manifest transcendence and heavenly lights, they also represent purity, faith, and flawlessness. More specifically, white crystals denote purity, innocence, and provide protection after nightfall.

Alongside the crystals, the artist also dressed the character with red gems that seem to be rubies. From ancient times through the present days, the crimson gem has acquired different meanings, both symbolic and spiritual. Symbolically speaking, the stone represents graciousness, desire, and purity; from the spiritual view, ruby is a gem of divine creativity, it is the depiction of luck, loyalty, and pure love. Aside from these, the headwear was also carved with many stunning and complex details, luxurious gems, and many nature-based patterns, like snowflakes and plants for instance. Similar to the deluxe accessories, the woman’s ensemble is dressed in many gold patterns, gems, pearls, and crystals, further enhancing the extravagant beauty.

In conclusion, this piece of fine art is one of excellence. Taking inspiration from spiritual themes and nature, not only does the piece put on display the essence of “Art Nouveau” but also radiates the feeling of calmness, peace, and harmony while somewhat presenting pieces of the spiritual world to its beholder.