1900 Turn of the Century Art
The emergence of epochs and styles is usually unconnected in any way with the calendar, 1900, however, is a synonym for Art Nouveau.

A world exhibition was held in that year in Paris, later to become the international forum for the Art Nouveau movement and its various national variations. The search was for a new compulsory style, which did not permanently take recourse in historicism yet still recalled traditional crafts.

Ornaments, reminiscent of nature and its forms became the main means of expression. Artistic interpretation differed widely - in Austria (Vienna Secession, WW-Wiener Werkstätte ("Viennese Workshops"), Austrian Werkbund ("Austrian Association of Craftsmen")), Germany (Munich Secession, German Werkbund ("German Association of Craftsmen")), France, England, USA und Scandinavia.

back overview forward

 


Lamp base in the shape of a figure in typical Art Nouveau style - by Raoul Larche about 1900
© Christies London, British and Continental Decorative Arts, 12th May 99'