Europe, the turn of the twentieth century. Architects and their clients are slowly starting to reject the previously predominant historicism – a trend that draws heavily on old styles such as the Baroque and Gothic Art. Many agree that the new times call for a new expression and a separate style that can capture the peculiarity of the era. This is when the Modern Style, commonly known as Art Nouveau from French, enters the picture and takes the world by storm. It is the first style to spread across nearly all branches of art on such a large scale. Painting and architecture aside, it was equally well reflected in cutlery, wallpapers, furniture, and even fashion and city infrastructure. Talk about new!
But what does art nouveau mean? In general terms, the style uses a flexible line, faunal and floral motifs, color, bold ornamentation, as well as stylized geometric forms. One of the more interesting themes found in Art Nouveau is the omega motif, eagerly employed in the design of door and window frames. Meanwhile, the distinctive pattern of chestnut leaves is mainly the domain of the architecture of Western European Art Nouveau. It reflects the urban character of the style, as it coincided with chestnut trees being planted in the newly created parks and public gardens of cities willing to embrace modernity.
Compared to other currents, Art Nouveau is more of an episode, which lasted from 1890 to 1925 and whose heyday was in the year 1905. Needless to say, the architecture of that period had both its own capitals: Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Glasgow or Lviv, as well as superstars: Hector Guimard, Antoni Gaudi, Otto Wagner, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In what Art Nouveau architects differ from their predecessors is their creative freedom where innovativeness and imagination are given top priority. The result is a wealth of amazing designs scattered all over the European continent.
The examples of art-nouveau tenement houses, company offices and administration buildings are too many to count. One of the flagships of this trend is the Vienna Secession Building. Famous for its impressive golden dome, it was originally designed as the seat of the Association of Fine Arts of the Austrian Secession, which brought together young artists opposing the conservative academic circle. In Vienna, as is also the case in Paris, it is not the tenement houses that make the greatest impression, but the beautifully designed subway entrances. Art entering public space, moving with the spirit of modern times – this is one of Art Nouveau’s mottos. Artists of that new era recognized the importance of introducing aesthetic values into the urban tissue, a notable example of which is Barcelona’s Park Güell, a high-class residential estate designed by Gaudí in the heart of Barcelona which today is one of Spain’s greatest tourist attractions.
Over time however, the richness of forms and ornaments proved too overwhelming, and as is typical in art, new creators turned to much more minimalist and simpler forms, thus paving the way for the era of modernism. Today, many cities pride themselves on their Art Nouveau heritage, as evidenced by the European Art Nouveau Route founded in 1999, in which Poland is represented by the city of Łódź.
transl. Jakub Majchrzak
The Secession Building, Vienna (Austria), architect: Joseph Maria Olbrich, 1898-1899
The building quickly became the showcase of the new trend. Despite its size, the openwork golden dome feels light and airy - Art Nouveau at its finest!
Casa Batlló, Barcelona (Spain), architect: Antoni Gaudí, 1904-1906
Gaudi is considered by many to be the founding father of Art Nouveau, and his designs are a real eye candy. Taking the example of the façade of Casa Batlló, it’s a true mosaic, with something in it for everyone: floral motifs, animal motifs (such as bones or scales), colorful ceramic tiles, stained glass windows, the omega motif, and of course, arched lines.
The Majolica House, Vienna (Austria), architect: Otto Wagner, 1898-1899
Its façade resembles a flower garden with flower buds forming chains across windows and balconies like in a pergola. The building owes its name to the ceramic tiles which are designed using the decorative technique called majolica.
Entrance to the Abbesses metro station, Paris (France), architect: Hector Guimard, 1899-1900
These underground entrances scattered around the French capital are the examples of Art Nouveau in townscape architecture. The glazed roof rests on stylized pillars resembling the stems of overgrown plants.
Park Güell, Barcelona (Spain), architect: Antoni Gaudí, 1900-1914
Apart from the irregularly-shaped pavilions, stairs and walls, whose decorations are made of ceramic tiles, the very layout of the park is art nouveau as well. Winding, bent paths cut through green spaces, creating a truly unique effect. This residential estate, where the architect himself lived, was purchased by the city council in 1922 and converted into a municipal park.
The Hôtel van Eetvelde, Brussels (Belgium), architect: Victor Horta, 1898-1900
The interior of the building with its impressive glass dome is one of the few preserved works by Victor Horta - an outstanding architect and one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau.
The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow (Scotland, UK), architect: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1899-1909
The Scottish Art Nouveau stands out against the backdrop of continental designs mainly because of the smooth line and a more minimalist approach to ornamentation. The building was severely damaged by fire in 2014.
The "Dniester" Insurance Company Building, Lviv (Ukraine), architects: Jan Lewiński, Tadeusz Obmiński, Aleksander Łuszpiński, Filemon Lewiński, 1905-1906
In the art-nouveau architecture of Lviv, strong folk elements can be observed. The facade of the Dniester building, with its geometrically elaborate floral motifs and colorful tiles, is often compared to richly decorated Hutsul rugs. While the building proved highly controversial at the time, it soon became an inspiration for new architecture projects in Lviv’s city center.
