Art Nouveau was an artistic style prominent from 1890 to World War 1 that drew inspiration from natural forms like plants and flowers. It included architecture, interior design, graphics, fine arts, and decorative arts. Key features included curved lines, flat decorative patterns, and rejection of earlier styles. Art Nouveau had many regional names across Europe and the United States. Architecture featured curved glass, plant-like embellishments, and asymmetrical shapes. Graphics played a key role through techniques like lithography, posters, and magazines. Glass art, sculpture, jewelry, and ceramics also expressed the style through nature-inspired designs and new materials.

1. Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (new art from French) is a style of decorative art, architecture and design prominent in western
Europe and USA from about 1890 until the First World War This art is inspired by natural form and structures
(flowers, plants, curved lines). Art Nouveau can be considered as a total art style because it include architecture,
graphic art, interior design, decorative arts, fine arts, furniture, glassware, jewelry, metalwork and textile. The
unique place of Art Nouveau is flat, decorative patterns, use of new materials, intertwined organic form, and
rejection of earlier styles. As Art Nouveau went through many phases it has many name Nieuwe Kunst
(Netherland), Jugendstil (Germany), Arte Joven (Spain), Secession (Austria), Stile Liberty (Italy).
Architecture
The buildings of Art Nouveau have many features include curved glass,
curving plant-like embellishments, mosaics, stained glass and
asymmetrical shapes. Art Nouveau is divided into two - Organic (a
floral approach focusing on organic plant forms) and Rationalist ( an
abstract, structural style with a strong symbolic and dynamic tendency)
by Pierre Francastel.
Fine art and graphics
The style was the first major artistic stylistic movement in which mass-produced
graphics played a key role often techniques of color printing
developed relatively recently. Influenced by the Paris-based Crezh artist
Alphonse Mucha (produced lithographed poster). Two-dimensional Art
Nouveau pieces were painted, drawn and printed in popular forms
(advertisements, posters, labels, magazines) Japanese wood-block prints,
with their curved lines, patterned surfaces, contrasting voids, and flatness
of visual plane, also inspired Art Nouveau. Some line and curve patterns
became graphic clichés that were later found in works of artists from
many parts of the world.
Glass Art
Glass art was a medium in which the style found tremendous expression. In
addition, René Lalique started to produce early works in glass which were a
precursor to his work in the Art Deco style, for which he was to become
famed.
Sculpture and jewelry
Sculpture include Ladislav Šaloun, François-Raoul Larche and Charles van
der Stappen. Jewelry of Art Nouveau period revitalized the jeweler’s art,
with nature as the principle source of inspiration, complemented by new levels of virtuosity in enameling and
the introduction of new materials, such as opals and semi-precious stones.
Ceramics
The ceramics of Art Nouveau were influenced by the
work of Japan. Artists called for re-examination of
vegetal and zoological motifs, particularly as seen in
Japanese art. The development of high temperature
porcelain with crystallized and matte glazes. It was a
period where lost techniques were rediscovered.