Art Nouveau: Pleasure and Sensuality

    I find the expressive painting and drawing of Art Nouveau to be very pleasureable and so wanted to start a thread on it in which anyone can post their favorites.


    From Wikipedia, an excerpt from the overview:


    "It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and flowers."

    Quote

    Art Nouveau (/ˌɑːrt nuːˈvoʊ, ˌɑːr/; French: [aʁ nuvo]) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts, known in different languages by different names: Jugendstil in German, Stile Liberty in Italian, Modernisme català in Catalan, etc. In English it is also known as the Modern Style. The style was most popular between 1890 and 1910 during the Belle Époque period that ended with the start of World War I in 1914.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]


    Also, I happened on this video which is quite magical and wanted to share, from the Savannah Botanical Gardens website:


    Watch the "Art Nouveau" video:

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    There's some very sensual architecture and furniture design of the period as well. Hector Guimard comes to mind, as does Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who also did watercolors. Antoni Gaudi's work was more radical but could be considered part of the movement. As could the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

    Thinking about it, Mackintosh's architecture and furniture was more Arts and Crafts style, with some Nouveau touches. His early influences included Art Nouveau, and he and his wife, Margaret, did watercolors and textiles that were Art Nouveau.